War of words erupts in U.P. as BJP ally claims split in Samajwadi Party; Akhilesh hits back

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A file image of Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav. | Photo Credit: ANI

A war of words erupted in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday (June after State Minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president Om Prakash Rajbhar claimed that the Samajwadi Party (SP) is headed for a major split, with a large number of its leaders willing to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“There will be a major split in the Samajwadi Party. Ram Gopal Yadav has submitted a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The entire State knows who the mastermind behind the mining scam and the Gomti River Front scam is. The SP is worried as the noose tightens. Leave aside Maharashtra and Bengal, the entire SP is ready to join the BJP,” Mr. Rajbhar, an ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, posted on X.

#WATCH | Lucknow | On UP Minister OP Rajbhar's statement, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav says, "Dana aur gana kab tak chalega yeh afsana." pic.twitter.com/HesS9KT3mn

SP president Akhilesh Yadav hit back, claiming that BJP MLAs are themselves ready to switch sides in Uttar Pradesh.

“Anyone who gets scared will leave their party. If we want to fight the BJP, we need a team of brave people. In Uttar Pradesh, even BJP MLAs are ready to switch sides,” Mr. Yadav told reporters in Lucknow.

Later, in a cryptic post on X, he took a swipe at Mr. Rajbhar and added, “Those who make predictions should predict for their party whether BJP is giving them 75 seats, 50 seats or just assurances. The people who took advance money by spreading rumours of getting 30 seats from the alliance with the BJP are searching for them.”

“Om Prakash Rajbhar is known for giving such statements to divert attention from key issues. At present, the organised loot at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple by people linked to the BJP-RSS is being discussed in public spaces and he is aiming to divert focus,” said SP spokesperson Sunil Singh Yadav ‘Sajan’.

“The fact is that it is the Samajwadi Party which stopped the BJP from reach