Claims of split in SP spark fresh political war of words in UP

Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Wednesday created a political uproar, claiming that a major split was looming in the Samajwadi Party (SP), with several leaders allegedly preparing to defect to the BJP. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and senior leader Ram Gopal Yadav quickly rejected the claim, calling it a baseless rumour meant to destabilise the Opposition ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Rajbhar, who leads the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), an NDA ally and the Panchayati Raj and Minority Welfare Ministry in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet, posted on X: “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. As the noose tightens, the SP is getting anxious. Forget Maharashtra and Bengal, the entire SP is sitting ready to join the BJP.” He claimed that pressure from ongoing investigations into past cases, such as mining and Gomti river front scams, was behind the alleged defections.

Ram Gopal Yadav, a senior SP MP and Akhilesh’s uncle, firmly denied sending any letter to Amit Shah. He asked the Home Minister directly if such a letter existed and called the claims “baseless rumours” meant to create confusion. Other SP leaders also denied the allegations, saying there was no factionalism or crisis in the party.

SP national president Akhilesh posted, “Jo dar jayega, woh bhaag jayega” (Those who get scared will run away), adding, “Dana aur gana kab tak chalega yeh afsana,” referring to alleged inducements and distractions from the ruling party. The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh accused the BJP of trying to poach Opposition leaders and weaken regional parties. Akhilesh repeated that the SP was united and strong, and promised to challenge the BJP’s dominance, even in places such as Gorakhpur.

Rajbhar’s intervention carries added irony. He parted ways with the SP before the 2024 polls and aligned with the BJP. His SBSP represents significant support from the Pasi community, making him a valuable NDA asset.

The BJP-led NDA is in a strong position in the State, while the SP has been strengthening its Yadav-Muslim base and reaching out to more groups through its PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) strategy.

The SP has dealt with internal problems before, such as the 2016-17 family dispute involving Mulayam Singh Yadav’s brother, Shivpal Yadav, which led to a temporary split. So far, there is no solid proof of the alleged letter or any list of defectors. BJP leaders have mostly stayed away from commenting on Rajbhar’s specific claims.

Political observers see this as pre-election positioning. In Uttar Pradesh’s changing political scene, talk of splits or defections is often used to make rivals look weak. With the 2027 elections still more than a year away, both sides are testing different messages on unity and caste. For the SP, showing unity under Akhilesh Yadav seems to be the main goal right now.

For the BJP and its allies, this episode shows how hard it is to turn dominance into complete control.

As Uttar Pradesh prepares for the assembly elections in 2027, such political arguments are likely to increase. It remains unclear whether Rajbhar’s claims will come to pass or turn out to be political drama. For now, the Samajwadi Party has made its position clear.