Latest News | SBSP Chief Rajbhar Says Ministerial Berth Does Not Hold Much Importance to Him

Bhadohi (UP), Nov 24 (PTI) Amid speculation about his induction in the Yogi Adityanath government, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar on Friday said a ministerial berth "does not hold much importance" to him.

"Remember, when I was with the Samajwadi Party, I had said that even if we do not get a single seat, we will stay with the SP," Rajbhar told reporters here when asked whether he will continue with the NDA if he is not given a ministerial berth.

Also Read | Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023: When Is Voting and Result? How To Vote, Check Name in Voter List? How To Find Polling Station? Know Everything Here.

On September 10, Rajbhar had expressed confidence that he along with BJP's Dara Singh Chauhan, who lost the Ghosi assembly bypoll, will be made ministers in the Uttar Pradesh government. The SBSP chief reiterated the same on November 12.

"I had spoken to the prime minister, Union home minister and (UP) chief minister. There are things, which are already decided. In the 2024 (Lok Sabha) elections, we are with the NDA.

Also Read | Tiger Population in India: Annual Tiger Census in West Bengal’s Sunderbans to Begin from November 27.

"Ministerial berth does not hold much importance to me...it is only a means. And a person, who has tendered resignation from the minister's post for the interest of the society, what is the importance of a ministerial berth to him?" Rajbhar said.

The SBSP is growing in the state, and is active in all the 75 districts, he added.

The SBSP contested the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in an alliance with the Samajwadi Party, winning six seats.

Later that year, the party backed Droupadi Murmu — the NDA candidate for president — while the Samajwadi Party supported opposition's pick Yashwant Sinha. In July this year, the SBSP formally joined the NDA.

In 2017, the SBSP contested the assembly elections in an alliance with the BJP and won four seats. Rajbhar was also made a minister during Adityanath's first term as chief minister.

However, the BJP and the SBSP parted ways ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The SBSP returned to the NDA fold in July after Rajbhar's meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)