Rajbhar Says Two SBSP MLAs May Back SP in Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha Polls

Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar has indicated that party MLAs Abbas Ansari and Jagdish Narayan Rai could vote for Samajwadi Party candidates in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking about the possibility of cross-voting, Rajbhar said both legislators had remained aligned with the Samajwadi Party since winning the 2022 Assembly elections, despite contesting those polls on SBSP tickets. He said they had used the SBSP symbol as part of the electoral arrangement between the two parties.

Rajbhar also accused SP president Akhilesh Yadav of not honouring the understanding between the parties during the Assembly elections. He alleged that while the SBSP had been allotted 16 seats, the SP fielded its own candidates in 12 of those constituencies.

The remarks come ahead of the October 16 Rajya Sabha elections, in which 10 seats from Uttar Pradesh are being contested. The possibility of cross-voting has become a major focus as parties assess their numbers for the final seat.

Rajbhar's comments followed heightened speculation over the political loyalties of Abbas Ansari and Jagdish Narayan Rai. Ansari, who represents Mau Sadar, recently met Akhilesh Yadav, while Rai represents Zafrabad in Jaunpur. Both were elected to the Assembly in 2022 on SBSP tickets as part of the then SP-led alliance.

Rajbhar said the two legislators had effectively remained with the SP since their election and therefore their possible support for SP candidates should not be viewed as a new development.

The SBSP chief also commented on the Congress's recent organisational changes in Uttar Pradesh. The party has appointed Aradhana Misra 'Mona' as state president and Imran Masood as working president.

On Masood's appointment, Rajbhar said the Congress leader should press the party leadership to consider declaring a Muslim as its chief ministerial candidate for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. His remarks reflected his political argument about the Congress's long-standing support among Muslim voters.

The Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha contest is being closely watched ahead of next year's Assembly elections, with parties seeking support from legislators outside their core numbers. The Election Commission has scheduled polling for October 16, with counting to take place the same day.