Akhilesh Yadav Scuttling Wings of Backward Class Leaders: Om Prakash Rajbhar

Ballia: Uttar Pradesh’s Panchayati Raj Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar slammed Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday, accusing him of “betraying” politicians from the backward classes, Dalits, and minorities. Rajbhar, whose party is a member of the ruling National Democratic coalition, claims Yadav’s friends are leaving the opposition coalition because he does not want politicians from backward groups to advance.

“Akhilesh ji doesn’t want to bring anyone along. He does not want any person from the backward class, Dalit community, or minority community to become a leader,” the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president told reporters at his party’s Rasra office.

“Jayant Chaudhary, Om Prakash Rajbhar, Dara Singh Chauhan, and Swami Prasad Maurya (all SP leaders or leaders of parties in its coalition) are all stating the same thing. The SP leaders have betrayed the backward class, Dalit group, and Muslim class. This is why everyone is fleeing him (Akhilesh Yadav),” Rajbhar said.

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Regarding Apna Dal (Kameravadi) not being allocated a Lok Sabha seat in UP under the INDIA bloc, Rajbhar stated that if Apna Dal (K) leaders wish to join the NDA, they are welcome. Apna Dal (K) has voiced dissatisfaction at not receiving a single seat under the INDIA bloc after Yadav stated that the alliance between Apna Dal (K) and Samajwadi Party was for the 2022 Assembly elections, not the 2024 election.

Rajbhar’s party gained six seats in the 2022 assembly elections after allying with the Samajwadi Party. He eventually parted ways with the SP. Rajbhar, who ran for office with the BJP in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly election, recently rejoined the NDA and was sworn in as minister.

When asked about Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s detention by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the excise policy case, Rajbhar responded, “The country’s money has been abused. Action is being taken against Kejriwal only after he was proven guilty in the probe,” he stated. He noted that the ED is an autonomous institution that is carrying out its responsibilities.