The SBSP, led by Om Prakash Rajbhar, joins NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Lucknow: The Suhaildev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar announced on Sunday that his party will be joining the BJP-led NDA. This move by Rajbhar could potentially help the BJP strengthen its stronghold among the OBC community, particularly in the politically crucial east Uttar Pradesh region. Rajbhar’s announcement comes after he met with Union Home Minister and BJP’s chief poll strategist Amit Shah in New Delhi, months after breaking ties with the Samajwadi Party. Shah tweeted that the alliance with Rajbhar will help improve the lives of the poor and deprived sections of society. Rajbhar also stated that he will attend the NDA meeting in New Delhi on July 18. It is speculated that Rajbhar may field his party candidates from at least two seats in UP ★Ghazipur and Ghosi. There are also rumors that he may be accommodated in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet. The Rajbhar community, which has a sizable population in east UP districts, plays a crucial role in deciding the electoral fortunes of a political party. The SBSP was previously part of the BJP-led NDA in 2017, winning four seats. Rajbhar was also inducted into the Yogi cabinet but later had differences with the state government and decided to quit. This alliance comes a day after SP MLA Dara Singh Chauhan also quit the membership of the UP assembly and the Akhilesh Yadav-led party, and is expected to join the BJP soon. Chauhan, who is also an OBC, is seeking to contest the next Lok Sabha elections from Ghosi.