After Mamata & Uddhav, Is Akhilesh Next? Rajbhar Claims SP Headed For Major Split, Party Chief Responds With A 'Dana Aur Gana' Jibe

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar on Wednesday triggered a fresh political storm by claiming that the Samajwadi Party (SP) is headed for a major split and alleging that several leaders from the opposition party are prepared to join the BJP.

In a series of remarks targeting SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and senior party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, Rajbhar claimed that political developments in Uttar Pradesh could soon overshadow similar episodes witnessed in states such as Maharashtra.

"Don't keep your attention only on Maharashtra; it is Uttar Pradesh's turn now," Rajbhar said while speaking to ANI.

The UP minister alleged that a letter had been sent by Ram Gopal Yadav to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, though he did not provide any evidence to support the claim.

"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 said.

He further claimed that a major political realignment was underway within the Samajwadi Party ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

"Only when someone is ready to be bought, people will buy them. Uttar Pradesh's number has come now," he said.

Rajbhar also linked his allegations to corruption cases involving the previous SP government, claiming that pressure from ongoing investigations was causing anxiety within the party.

"CBI has named Akhilesh ji in a mining-related case. Did anyone go to jail in the Gomti Riverfront case?" he asked.

Earlier in the day, Rajbhar intensified his attack through a post on X, where he predicted an imminent split within the Samajwadi Party.

"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," Rajbhar wrote.

The remarks come at a time when political parties in Uttar Pradesh have begun positioning themselves for the 2027 Assembly elections.

Akhilesh Shrugs Off Claim

The astonishing claims appeared to have little effect on SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who responded with a sharp jibe at Rajbhar.

Responding to Rajbhar's assertion of a "major political realignment" within the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh remarked, "Dana aur gana kab tak chalega yeh afsana," loosely suggesting that such stories are driven by personal benefits and political theatrics.

SP Leaders Close Ranks

Samajwadi Party leaders rallied behind Akhilesh Yadav and dismissed Rajbhar's allegations as political rhetoric.

SP MP Rajeev Rai mocked Rajbhar's remarks, reviving a criticism he had made during the Lok Sabha elections.

I had said during the Ghosi Lok Sabha election that there is a disease called 'bakbak-itis'. If there is no cure for it, are we responsible? Why do you take all three of them so seriously? This disease also spreads pollution," Rai said.

SP spokesperson Manish Singh also hit back, questioning Rajbhar's political standing.

"Before commenting on the Samajwadi Party, Om Prakash Rajbhar ji should first assess his own political strength and capabilities. The number of workers and leaders in your entire party is not even equal to the number of workers and leaders in a single block of our party," Singh said.

Senior SP leader Ravidas Mehrotra categorically rejected the possibility of any split.

"Rajbhar is a two-faced man. No cognisance should be taken of what he says. Not even a single leader of the Samajwadi Party will go to the BJP. The Samajwadi Party will form the government in Uttar Pradesh in 2027. All MPs and MLAs of the party have faith in the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav ji. No matter how much the BJP tries or misuses agencies like the CBI and ED, no leader of our party will leave," Mehrotra said.

No Evidence Yet

Neither Rajbhar nor the BJP has provided evidence to substantiate the claim that Ram Gopal Yadav wrote to Amit Shah regarding a possible defection of SP leaders. The Samajwadi Party has strongly denied the allegations.

The political exchange comes as parties begin positioning themselves for the high-stakes 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, with the BJP-led NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc expected to intensify their campaigns in the coming months.

What’s Happening In Maharashtra?

The Shiv Sena (UBT) appears to be heading towards another major political crisis, with six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs reportedly preparing to break away and align with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction.

According to top sources, MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction met at the Delhi residence of Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde around 8:30 am on Wednesday. Eknath Shinde and Shrikant Shinde were both present during the meeting.

Sources indicated that the rebel MPs are likely to first complete the formal process of constituting a separate group within the Lok Sabha before subsequently merging with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Six Uddhav Thackeray faction MPs will join the Shiv Sena Shinde faction on June 19, Foundation Day.

The six MPs reportedly in touch with the Shinde camp are Omraje Nimbalkar from Dharashiv, Sanjay Jadhav from Parbhani, Sanjay Dina Patil from Mumbai North East, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar from Hingoli, Bhausaheb Wakchaure from Shirdi, and Sanjay Deshmukh from Yavatmal-Washim. The name of Rajabhau Waje has also surfaced in discussions surrounding the possible split.

What Happened In West Bengal?

In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress has been hit by one of its biggest crises since losing the recent Assembly election to the BJP. The party is facing a twin challenge - a rebellion by MLAs in the state assembly and a revolt by MPs in Parliament.

A faction of 58 TMC MLAs has backed Ritabrata Banerjee's claim to the Leader of the Opposition post, challenging the leadership's choice. The development has triggered a legal battle, with the party approaching the Calcutta high court.

The crisis deepened after MP Kakoli Ghosh claimed the support of 19 other lawmakers and announced backing for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The group of 20 MPs has since sought to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a move that would help them evade the anti-defection law if approved by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.