Akhilesh may step aside, Shivpal Yadav could lead Samajwadi Party: UP minister

Ballia,UPDATED: Jun 20, 2026 23:47 IST

Uttar Pradesh minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar on Saturday sharpened his attack on the Samajwadi Party, claiming its president Akhilesh Yadav may have to step aside and that Shivpal Singh Yadav could take over the party. He also repeated his claim that the SP was headed for a split.

Speaking to reporters in Ballia district, Rajbhar said some SP leaders were in touch with the BJP and claimed the process would begin from Ballia, which he called a "land of rebels". His remarks come amid an ongoing exchange between him and SP leaders over his repeated assertions of trouble within the opposition party.

Rajbhar said the SP was moving towards a split, like Shiv Sena and the Trinamool Congress. Without offering evidence, he claimed SP MP Rajeev Rai had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and alleged that Rai would lead a rebellion in the party at Shah's behest.

He also claimed that some SP MPs were preparing to move closer to the ruling side because they saw little political future in the opposition party.

Targeting Akhilesh Yadav's ties with his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, Rajbhar alleged that the SP chief did not want to see Shivpal "even with a sideways glance".

He also referred to Akhilesh Yadav's earlier remarks in the Assembly questioning Shivpal's role in the party.

"In the coming days, Akhilesh Yadav will have to step aside to save the party, and Shivpal Singh Yadav will lead it," Rajbhar said.

The comments come as the war of words between Rajbhar and SP leaders has intensified. Earlier this week, Rajbhar had asked Akhilesh Yadav to launch a campaign to "save his MPs", while the SP chief described him as a "rumour-mongering minister".

SP MP Rajeev Rai had accused the SBSP chief of making provocative remarks only to remain politically relevant.

Rajbhar also sought to dismiss talk of differences within his own party. He said five of the SBSP's six MLAs were still with him and alleged that only one legislator was openly moving around with SP flags.

His statement came days after his son Arun Rajbhar had said three SBSP MLAs were seen moving with SP flags, raising questions over unity in the party.

On the Ram temple issue, Rajbhar criticised SP leaders for raising questions over alleged financial irregularities in the temple trust. He said those who had opposed the Ram temple movement had no "moral authority" to comment on the matter.

He also challenged both Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Singh Yadav to contest against him from the Zahoorabad Assembly seat in Ghazipur district, which he currently represents.

Rajbhar's remarks in Ballia brought together his attack on the SP, his claims of a possible split in the party, his response to speculation over dissent in the SBSP, and his challenge to Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Singh Yadav ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

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