Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on 22 September 2026 sharply rebutted Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shivpal Singh Yadav over his remarks defending jailed party leader Azam Khan, asserting that the cases against Khan were registered during the SP's own tenure in government — not under the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration. The exchange marks a fresh flashpoint in the escalating war of words between the ruling alliance and the SP ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

What Shivpal Yadav Said

During a visit to Azamgarh, Shivpal Yadav declared that those who had 'implicated' Azam Khan would face consequences. He further asserted that if the SP returned to power in Uttar Pradesh, Khan would be released from jail and justice would be delivered to him. The remarks were seen as an attempt to consolidate support among SP loyalists by positioning the party as a protector of one of its most prominent and polarising leaders.

Rajbhar's Counter-Attack

Rajbhar wasted little time responding. 'He was trapped by people from the SP itself. The cases that have been filed against him were all filed during the SP's tenure,' the minister said. He also raised questions about alleged construction on government land linked to Khan, asking: 'You are giving him money, you are constructing a building on government property, and if that land is government land, why was it not transferred in the name of a school? Is this the fault of the BJP or the SP?'

Rajbhar then trained his fire directly on Shivpal's own ministerial record, alleging that government jobs were auctioned to the highest bidder during his tenure. 'When you were a minister, there used to be bidding for jobs in the state. That too is a sin, and it will catch up with you,' he said. By contrast, Rajbhar claimed that under the present Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government, candidates are obtaining government jobs without paying any money — a pointed attempt to draw a contrast on governance credibility.

The Hanuman Poster Row

Separately, Rajbhar also commented on a poster displayed outside the SP office in Lucknow on Tuesday. The poster depicts SP chief Akhilesh Yadav seated with folded hands before Lord Hanuman, who is shown bestowing blessings upon him, with the message 'Vijay Bhava: 2027' — a clear allusion to the party's ambitions for the next state elections.

Taking a swipe at the imagery, Rajbhar said: 'Why don't they become Hanuman ji themselves? If they are taking Hanuman ji's blessings, what blessing will he give them?' He went on to elaborate with an analogy involving a river, the sea, Lord Shiva, a mountain, and Hanuman, before invoking Lord Ram in his remarks — a rhetorical flourish that underscored the BJP alliance's attempts to frame itself as the authentic voice of Hindu sentiment in the state.

Political Context and What Lies Ahead

The back-and-forth reflects the intensifying contest for political ground in Uttar Pradesh ahead of 2027. Azam Khan — currently in jail — remains a potent symbol for a section of the SP's support base, and Shivpal's remarks signal that the party intends to keep his cause prominent in the political narrative. Rajbhar's rebuttal, by linking the cases to SP-era governance, attempts to neutralise that narrative while simultaneously attacking the opposition on jobs and corruption. Notably, this is not the first time intra-SP rivalries have provided the ruling alliance with ammunition — the fractious history between Shivpal Yadav and his nephew Akhilesh Yadav has long complicated the party's positioning. How the SP manages the Azam Khan issue without alienating centrist voters could prove a key variable in the 2027 contest.