NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar on Thursday doubled down on his claim that the Samajwadi Party (SP) is headed for a split.The remarks have triggered a fresh political row in Uttar Pradesh, with the ruling NDA claiming unrest within the opposition camp and the SP dismissing the allegations as a diversionary tactic ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.In a post on X, Rajbhar claimed that a rebellion within the SP was only a matter of time. “Ever since yesterday, everyone’s been asking what’s about to break in the SP? So listen! The rebel faction of SP’s dissident MPs will be led by a ‘red’ from Uttar Pradesh’s ‘Rebel Land’,” he wrote.Referring to a recent Brahmin conference organised by the party, Rajbhar added: “The way the SP office yesterday insulted Brahmins under the guise of a conference has deeply hurt the ‘red’ of ‘Rebel Ballia’. The plan was already in place, but yesterday’s incident has poured ghee into the fire. The split is definitely going to happen.”The SBSP chief also took a swipe at SP president Akhilesh Yadav, advising him to focus on keeping his flock together rather than engaging in what he called social media politics.“The way the entire Saifai family jumped into abusing me and issuing clarifications over one of my reactions — it’s far better for Akhilesh Babu to drop this Twitter, such-and-such, and PC-style leadership, and instead launch a ‘Save Our MPs’ campaign,” Rajbhar said.“And go to the homes of the upset and disappointed MPs to apologise to them,” he added.Rajbhar had first sparked the controversy on Wednesday when he claimed that a “major political realignment” was underway within the Samajwadi Party. He also alleged that senior SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav had written to Union home minister Amit Shah regarding party MPs, a claim that the opposition has rejected.“Only when someone is ready to be bought, people will buy them. Don’t keep your attention only on Maharashtra; it is UP’s number now,” Rajbhar said, hinting at political developments in Uttar Pradesh.He further alleged that corruption cases linked to the previous SP government were making party leaders nervous. “A major split is going to happen in the Samajwadi Party. Ram Gopal Yadav has submitted a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji. Everyone in Uttar Pradesh knows who the mastermind behind the mining scam and Gomti River Front scam is,” Rajbhar wrote on X.The BJP quickly backed Rajbhar’s claims. Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya asserted that several SP MPs were ready to leave the party.“In SP, 25-26 MPs are ready to defect right now. We are not even breaking them. Many of SP’s MPs know they will break away on their own,” Maurya claimed.BJP spokesperson RP Singh said Rajbhar had merely highlighted internal discontent within the party, while deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak accused Akhilesh Yadav of being “totally frustrated”.The Samajwadi Party, however, strongly denied any suggestion of a split.Responding to Rajbhar’s remarks, Akhilesh Yadav posted a cryptic jibe: “Dana aur gana kab tak chalega yeh afsana,” questioning how long such political narratives would continue.SP MP Afzal Ansari dismissed the speculation outright. “There is no question of a split in the Samajwadi Party. Others are waiting to break away and infiltrate the Samajwadi Party,” he said.Sambhal MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq also rejected the claims, saying the party remained united despite “temptation or pressure”.SP spokesperson Juhi Singh launched a sharp attack on Rajbhar, calling him a “turncoat” and alleging that he was acting as a BJP mouthpiece.The war of words comes at a time when political circles are already abuzz with speculation over reported unrest in other opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Trinamool Congress, adding another layer of intrigue to the run-up to the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
