Elections 2024: Why is OP Rajbhar important for NDA in UP? Is he necessary or compulsion?

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: UP is the main target of BJP, which has entered the 2024 elections with the slogan of crossing 400. To take steps towards this target, the Yogi cabinet has been expanded on Tuesday (05 March 2024). In other words, an attempt has been made to solve all the political equations of the state through this expansion. Four new ministers have been given place in this expansion of Yogi cabinet. These include Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) Chief Omprakash Rajbhar. Rajbhar had formed an alliance with Akhilesh Yadav’s party SP in the UP Assembly elections 2022. Later he changed sides and joined NDA. In such a situation, we know how important Rajbhar is for BJP.  

It is believed that making Rajbhar a minister will increase the strength of NDA in Purvanchal. The chances of victory may also increase in the seats of Purvanchal where BJP did not win in 2019. Actually, there is 4% Rajbhar vote in UP. Not only this, Rajbhar is considered to have a good hold in 18 districts of Purvanchal. With Rajbhar’s arrival, BJP will gain on 16 Lok Sabha seats.   

Rajbhar’s influence on which seats?

Rajbhar is considered an influential OBC leader of Purvanchal UP. With his joining BJP, NDA’s penetration among non-Yadav OBC votes will be further strengthened. Rajbhar is MLA from Ghazipur. His party is considered to have a good hold on the seats of Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ghosi, Lalganj, Ghazipur, Ambedkar Nagar, Salempur, Azamgarh, Ballia, Chandauli, Allahabad, Faizabad, Basti, Gorakhpur, Fish City, Bhadohi.

There was loss due to Rajbhar’s exit in 2019

In the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, BJP had won 27 out of 28 seats in Eastern UP except Azamgarh. In 2019, when SP-BSP and RLD fought in alliance in UP, BJP lost 6 seats in Eastern UP. In this election, Rajbhar’s party came out of NDA and fielded its candidates on 24 seats. Even though Rajbhar could not win even a single seat, the votes cast by him were enough for the BJP’s defeat. It is believed that now Rajbhar is expected to make up for this loss by joining the NDA camp.