Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 17 : The political temperature in Uttar Pradesh rose sharply on Wednesday after Uttar Pradesh Minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar claimed that a "major political realignment" was underway within the Samajwadi Party (SP), triggering a war of words between the ruling alliance and the opposition ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Rajbhar's explosive remarks, coupled with claims from BJP leaders that several SP MPs were ready to switch sides, sparked fresh speculation about possible unrest within the opposition party. However, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and several party leaders strongly rejected the allegations, calling them politically motivated attempts to distract from issues facing the BJP government.
Speaking to ANI, Om Prakash Rajbhar alleged that the Samajwadi Party was facing an internal crisis and hinted at an impending split.
"Only when someone is ready to be bought, people will buy them. Don't keep your attention only on Maharashtra; it is UP's number now," Rajbhar said, suggesting that political developments in Uttar Pradesh could soon overshadow recent reports of instability in other states.
Rajbhar also referred to an alleged letter purportedly written by senior SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
"Didn't you see that Ram Gopal ji has given a letter to Amit Shah ji and told him that these are the names, call them and take them with you, but keep us safe. Ram Gopal ji should tell what he wrote in his letter," Rajbhar claimed.
The minister further linked the issue to corruption allegations dating back to the Samajwadi Party government.
"CBI has named Akhilesh ji in a mining-related case. Did anyone go to jail in the Gomti Riverfront case?" he asked.
In a post on X, Rajbhar intensified his attack, alleging that corruption cases were making SP leaders nervous.
"A major split is going to happen in the Samajwadi Party. Ram Gopal Yadav has submitted a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji. Everyone in Uttar Pradesh knows who the mastermind behind the mining scam and Gomti River Front scam is. As the noose tightens, the SP is getting anxious. Forget Maharashtra and Bengal, the entire SP is sitting ready to join the BJP," he wrote.
Unfazed by Rajbhar's allegations, Akhilesh Yadav responded with a sarcastic remark aimed at the SBSP leader.
"Dana aur gana kab tak chalega yeh afsana," Akhilesh said, loosely questioning how long such narratives and political theatrics would continue.
The SP chief, meanwhile, shifted focus to the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections and announced that the party was preparing a major political push in Gorakhpur, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's political stronghold.
"This time we will work to bring the BJP to a zero in Gorakhpur," Akhilesh declared.
"We have resolved to change the results in Gorakhpur. Very soon, the party organisation will decide when to hold the party meeting in Gorakhpur," he added.
Launching a broader attack on the BJP government, Akhilesh alleged that hundreds of primary schools had been shut down in Gorakhpur during the BJP's tenure.
"During the BJP's ten-year tenure, primary schools have been systematically shut down in Gorakhpur, with the highest number of closures occurring in that region. The Chief Minister has closed 500 primary schools in Gorakhpur alone and has been responsible for snatching away 1,500 government jobs," he claimed.
He also accused the government of failing on law and order, healthcare, and infrastructure.
"Uttar Pradesh now ranks first in crime, with Gorakhpur experiencing the highest rates," he alleged.
Referring to the Gorakhpur Link Expressway, Akhilesh said, "The Chief Minister is effectively running a 'Gorakh dhandha' in his own district."
The SP chief further accused the BJP of electoral malpractice and corruption.
"In the BJP, religion has become synonymous with money. There was blatant dishonesty in the Kundarki assembly elections," he alleged.
Later in the day, Rajbhar escalated the rhetoric further after Akhilesh Yadav responded to his claims.
"Hey Akhilesh Yadav ji, I've just mentioned Ram Gopal Yadav ji's letter for now. If I write down the names of the sinners involved in the mining scam and the Gomti River Front, it would cause an earthquake. The entire Uttar Pradesh knows who is the mastermind behind the red-cap-wearing corrupt folks? And everyone knows who Ramgopal Yadav is, compromising and making deals to save," Rajbhar said.
However, the ruling BJP quickly backed Rajbhar's assertions and claimed that discontent was brewing within the Samajwadi Party.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya made one of the strongest claims, asserting that several SP parliamentarians were prepared to leave the party.
"In SP, 25-26 MPs are ready to defect right now. We are not even breaking them. Many of SP's MPs know they will break away on their own," Maurya said.
"Akhilesh Yadav's cycle cannot operate the Samajwadi Party. That cycle can go to Saifai, but it cannot enter the corridors of power," he added.
BJP spokesperson RP Singh also defended Rajbhar's comments and accused opposition parties of being trapped in dynastic politics.
"Look, this is the problem with parties rooted in dynastic politics. Whether it is Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav, Aditya Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, or the two prominent faces of RJD, the common issue is that they cannot think beyond their families," Singh said.
"Rajbhar ji simply pointed out that according to his information, there is internal turmoil within the Samajwadi Party," he added.
Another Deputy Chief Minister, Brajesh Pathak, accused Akhilesh Yadav of being frustrated.
"Akhilesh Yadav is totally frustrated. His party is based on caste and religion; they are doing Muslim appeasement. Today, there is a rule of law in UP, the law and order are up to the mark in Yogi regime," Pathak said.
Cabinet Minister Anil Rajbhar also joined the attack, accusing the Samajwadi Party of failing the education sector during its tenure.
"Samajwadi Party and the chief of Samajwadi Party do not want to come out of the Saifai mentality," he said.
"They should sometimes tell the public about their government as to what they did for education. Today, under the BJP government, municipal schools have been transformed, and one district, one medical college is becoming a reality," he added.
Samajwadi Party leaders, meanwhile, unanimously dismissed the speculation of a split.
SP MP Afzal Ansari said there was no question of any division within the party.
"There is no question of a split in the Samajwadi Party. Others are waiting to break away and infiltrate the Samajwadi Party," Ansari said.
"There is no split within Samajwadis. We defeated the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in 2024, and we will do it again in the 2027 Assembly elections," he added.
Sambhal MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq also rejected suggestions of disunity.
"By the grace of God, I can say with full responsibility that I am also a part of those MPs, and as a member of the Samajwadi Party family, I can say the party is strong," Barq said.
"Whether it's a lure of temptation or pressure, that policy will not work on any member of the Samajwadi Party. The party is united and ready to put up a tough fight," he added.
SP spokesperson Juhi Singh launched a blistering attack on Rajbhar, calling him a "turncoat" and accusing him of acting as a BJP mouthpiece.
"OP Rajbhar is a turncoat who has no ethics and no values. He got elected with the help of the Samajwadi Party and now is acting as a mouthpiece, a paid voice of the Bharatiya Janata Party," she said.
She alleged that the BJP was using Rajbhar to divert attention from alleged corruption, unemployment and examination controversies.
"Nothing has been done by the BJP government, so naturally, to distract from these issues, people like OP Rajbhar are being promoted to speak this way," Singh said.
The sharp exchange between Rajbhar and Akhilesh Yadav comes as political parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. While Rajbhar and BJP leaders continue to claim that discontent is brewing within the Samajwadi Party, the opposition has closed ranks and dismissed the speculation as an attempt to weaken the party's momentum after its strong performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
These remarks come at a time when there is already buzz related to a split within the Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs, and 20 Trinamool Congress MPs' merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India.