After blowing hot and cold for many months, Suheldeo Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president Om Prakash Rajbhar, who is also a Cabinet minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, took the first decisive step towards severing ties with Bharatiya Janata Party by relinquishing the charge of Backward Class Welfare department, saying he was ignored while constituting the Backward Class Commission.

Rajbhar, was holding the charge of two departments — Backward Class Welfare and Divyang Development — gave up the charge of Backward Class Welfare department while retaining that of Divyang Welfare department.

In a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rajbhar said that he was leaving the Backward Class Welfare department as he was ignored in constitution of the Backward Class Commission and also the continuous neglect of backwards.

“Neither my suggestions were sought nor the suggestion I gave were accommodated while constituting the  State Commission for Backward Class. There is anger among the members of backward classes. As I cannot serve these people, I am relinquishing the charge of Backward Class Welfare department,” Rajbhar wrote in his letter, which was sent to the Chief Minister on Thursday.

Rajbhar also said that he had suggested that backwards within backwards should be given representation within 27 per cent quota but his request was denied as some dominant backward classes were walking away with all the benefits of reservation.

Later, talking to reporters, Rajbhar said he was pained at the development as departmental officials were taking orders from the Chief Minister ignoring him. “In this scenario, how can I continue?” he asked.

The SBSP chief also said that he would take a final call on whether or not to continue in the BJP government, on February 24. “Hum to dubenge sanam, tumhe bhi le dubenge,” he said.

As the news spread, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma went to meet Rajbhar. Both the leaders had a talk for over half-an-hour. What exactly the two discussed was not known but emerging from the meeting Rajbhar said that he would meet the Chief Minister personally and explain the problem to him.