Has the Samajwadi Party Become NDA's B-Team?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- O.P. Rajbhar criticizes the Samajwadi Party for aiding NDA victories.
- The Voter Adhikar Yatra aimed to highlight voting rights.
- Electoral defeats in Uttar Pradesh raise questions for the SP.
- The INDIA block faces challenges in uniting against NDA.
- Bihar remains a key battleground in upcoming elections.
New Delhi, Sep 5 (NationPress) Criticizing the participation of Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) in the Bihar elections, Uttar Pradesh Minister O.P. Rajbhar declared on Friday that the party has essentially become the B-team for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), aiding its electoral victories from UP to Delhi to Bihar, likely due to its own shortcomings.
The SP leader, Akhilesh Yadav, recently took part in the concluding segment of the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar, which was spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav. They criticized the Nitish government for issues like unemployment and poverty, despite being in power for two decades. The trio also highlighted 'vote theft', as pointed out by the Congress MP, during a special press conference to rally public backing.
In response to Akhilesh Yadav's push for PDA in the Bihar elections, O.P. Rajbhar stated, “The party that claims to be a champion for PDA (Pichda, Dalit and Alpasankhyak) has faced multiple electoral defeats in Uttar Pradesh including in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024. Now, they are heading to Bihar to seek support for the INDIA block. They are entangled in their own deceptions.”
Rajbhar, who also serves as the national president of the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and is an ally of the NDA, asserted that the SP is acting as the NDA's B-team, assisting in its electoral triumphs across UP, Delhi, and Bihar.
“They visited Madhya Pradesh, labeled the Congress corrupt, and urged its supporters not to vote for them, accusing them of betrayal. Yet now, they are heading to Bihar to endorse the same party. They have indeed become the B-team for the NDA, facilitating their continuous election victories,” he remarked.
He mentioned that the SP has also diminished the prospects of the INDIA block in Delhi, and Bihar is their next destination.
The 16-day Voter Adhikar Yatra, led by the Mahagathbandhan (Congress-RJD-Left), concluded in Patna on September 1, showcasing significant strength with many members of the INDIA block, including the SP president, endorsing the opposition.
Regarding the Bihar elections, the SBSP leader confirmed that his party would participate as part of the NDA, and discussions about seat-sharing have already occurred with key leaders, including Amit Shah, J.P. Nadda, and the BJP's state unit heads.