BJP has adopted a policy to ignore SBSP

In the face of mounting criticism from its alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh has adopted a policy to “ignore” Suheldeo Bahratiya Samaj Party (SBSP) waiting patiently for the next move of its president Om Prakash Rajbhar who had threatened to withdraw support after October.

 A senior BJP leader told The Pioneer that Om Prakash Rajbhar does not exist for them anymore.  “He has created such a chasm which is difficult to fill,” he said adding: “BJP will not take any step. We will not throw them out of the alliance despite knowing that two of their MLAs have voted against the BJP in Rajya Sabha elections and its leader regularly pours vitriol against us,” he said.

The BJP has adopted the policy to ignore SBSP. In recent meetings the BJP leaders gave prominence to Apna Dal, another ally of the party. No senior BJP leader even went to the wedding of the son of Om Prakash Rajbhar despite he had given invite to party’s national president Amit Shah and others.

The political strategy adopted by the party is clear. It will not throw them out of government as it might send a bad message among the Rajbhar community. It is waiting for Om Prakash Rajbhar to say quits so that party can go to the town saying he has betrayed MBCs.

SBSP has four MLAs one of them Rajbhar is cabinet rank minister in the Yogi Government.

This is no longer a secret that BJP and SBSP enjoys a blow hot, blow cold relationship. It has touched such a nadir that Rajbhar had called a BJP legislator `cycle chor’ while the ruling party legislator equated the minister with `kutta’ (dog).

After Rajbhar had a meeting with senior SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav BJP MLA  Surendra singh equated him (Rajbhar) with dog saying he will go and join the party which will throw bones.  “He (Rajbhar) has no standing. He will go and join the party that will throw bones,” Singh, who is MLA from Berriya in Ballia district said.

When Rajbhar came to know about this statement he said that Singh was a cycle chor. “His (legislator’s) mental condition is bad. He should come to Varanasi he will get him admitted in the hospital,” the minister said.

Rajbhar said that his party belongs to backward and will continue to raise voice in support of them. “It is up to BJP to continue alliance with us or not. But I think the relations are now bit strained,” he said.