Lucknow: The Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, a BJP ally in Uttar Pradesh, is preparing to snap ties with the BJP on October 27 if the ruling party does not accept its demand for reservation within reservation for Most backward castes and Most Dalits by then.
The SBSP president and UP minister Om Prakash Rajbhar said on Friday that BJP president Amit Shah had promised to implement his demand.
“We will wait till October 26 and if the BJP does not fulfill its promise, we will take a major decision on October 27 when we hold a rally in Lucknow,” Mr Rajbhar said.
The minister alleged that the BJP has always ignored the demands of OBCs and MBCs.
“The BJP picks up a leader from these communities and then makes it dance like a monkey. The BJP then claims that it has done wonders for the community but you cannot fool the OBCs all the time,” Mr Rajbhar said.
Mr Rajbhar is also likely to resign from his ministerial position on the same day if he withdraws from the alliance.
The SBSP leader said that he had discussed the issue several times with the BJP leadership but nothing came out of the talks except assurances.
Mr Rajbhar said that he cannot wait any longer for the BJP to fulfill its commitments. “It is now or never. The elections will be announced in February-March and the model code of conduct will be implemented. Nothing can be done after that and for me, the welfare of my community is bigger than my own personal interest,” he said.
The SBSP has four legislators in the UP assembly and Mr Om Prakash Rajbhar is the lone minister from his party.
Mr Rajbhar, since the past one year, has been critical of the Yogi Adityanath government. He has accused the state government of ignoring the interest of backward castes, alleged that corruption has increased in the Yogi regime and also threatened to sit on dharna if his demands were not met. Two of the four SBSP MLAs even cross voted during the Raja Sabha elections.
The BJP, however, has been handling Mr Rajbhar with kid gloves and ignoring his tantrums.
