In an attempt to mount pressure on the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar plans to launch a statewide movement on implementation of the recommendations of the Social Justice Committee and the Justice G Rohini Commission report on reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Rajbhar, ever since parting company with the Samajwadi Party in July 2022 and realigning his party with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, has been lobbying for his induction into the Yogi Adityanath cabinet.
Repeated assertions by Rajbhar that he along with Dara Singh Chauhan, who recently lost the by-election from Ghosi assembly constituency in September, will be inducted into the cabinet before Diwali, had led to speculations about cabinet expansion.
The recent meeting of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda had further fuelled speculation about the much-awaited expansion of the Yogi ministry 2.0 before Diwali.
Rajbhar said here on Saturday that there was no message from the BJP leadership about the cabinet expansion or his induction into the ministry.
“The top BJP leaders had earlier promised that I will be inducted into the ministry after the SBSP broke its alliance with the SP in July last year. The SBSP is an ally of the NDA and we are hopeful of seat-sharing in the 2024 Lok Sabha election as well,” he said.
Rajbhar said he had planned to visit Delhi to meet Amit Shah and JP Nadda on November 7 but the plan was postponed due to the festive season. The meeting may now be held after the Chhath festival, he said.
A meeting of SBSP leaders will be held after the Diwali to discuss preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Besides strengthening the organisation, the SBSP will launch a movement on various issues to mobilise the party cadre.
He said the SBSP would also seek inclusion of the Rajbhar community in the Scheduled Caste list and press for complete prohibition in the state. He described the increase in caste-based quota from 50 per cent to 65 per cent by Bihar government as a political gimmick of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
