Decision on alliance with BJP to be taken after meeting with Shah: Rajbhar

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet minister and SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar Monday said he will take a decision on his party's continuation in the saffron party-led alliance after meeting BJP president Amit Shah.

Rajbhar, who earlier threatened to part ways with the BJP if recommendations of the Social Justice Committee were not implemented by February 24, said a meeting has been scheduled with the BJP president in Delhi on Tuesday (February 26).

"After the meeting, it will be decided whether we have to contest the coming elections in alliance with the BJP," he said.

Senior leaders of his party as well as Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma will also remain present in tomorrow's meeting, Rajbhar said.

Asked if Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will also attend tomorrow's meeting, Rajbhar, whose Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) is an ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, said, "His presence is not important as the decision has to be taken by the BJP."
Arun Rajbhar, general secretary of the SBSP had earlier said, "If the BJP does not agree to the demands raised by us, we will definitely part ways with them. If the saffron party does not implement the recommendations of the Social Justice Committee by February 24, then our path would be separate, and subsequently, we will contest all 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state."