The Samajwadi Party dismissed UP minister Rajbhar’s claim of a split in the party

File photo of Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav. | Photo credit: ANI

Uttar Pradesh government minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) said that the Samajwadi Party (SP) is heading for a major split, with a large number of leaders willing to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“There will be a big split in the Samajwadi Party. Ram Gopal Yadav has sent a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The entire state of Uttar Pradesh knows who is the mastermind behind the mining scam and the Gomti river scam. The SP is worried as the noose tightens. Leave Maharashtra and Bengal aside, the entire SP is ready to join the Subheld BJP) president, BJP’s ally in Uttar Pradesh, on X.

#WATCH | Lucknow | On UP Minister OP Rajbhar’s statement, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav says, “When will this story of giving and singing continue.” pic.twitter.com/HesS9KT3mn

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 17, 2026

The Samajwadi Party ridiculed the statement, adding that such a comment was aimed at diverting attention from the organized looting committed at the BJP-RSS Ram Temple.

“Om Prakash Rajbhar is known to make such statements to divert attention from key issues. Currently, the organized looting of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple by BJP-RSS affiliated people is being discussed in public spaces; its aim is to divert attention. The fact is that it is Samajwadi Party that stopped BJP2 after 27ll Lokha defeat by Sabha defeat. BJP in Uttar Pradesh, our party leaders and MPs are united The National President has categorically mentioned that a decisive victory of the Indian-led SP in Uttar Pradesh will subsequently lead to the fall of the Union government,” said Sunil Singh Yadav ‘Sajan’, spokesperson of the SP.

Akhilesh Yadav rejected claims of a looming split, saying the party remained strong and it was the BJP that had “engineered” defections in the past through incentives and coercion.

Responding to a press query about possible discontent within the Samajwadi Party (SP), Mr. Yadav, its chief, said the BJP had earlier succeeded in breaking up several parties, including removing legislators and leaders from the SP.

“If you look at Uttar Pradesh, several SP MLAs, MLCs and even Rajya Sabha members have been removed. There must have been some vested interest, some bait or some fear… People who are afraid are leaving their party,” he said.

Mr. Rajbhar heads the SBSP, an ally of the BJP-led NDA in Uttar Pradesh.

The claims come at a time when the Trinamool Congress is facing an unprecedented split, while the Shiv Sena (UBT), another major player in the opposition camp, is staring at a crisis, with some of its nine Lok Sabha MPs tipped to defect to the ruling Shiv Sena.

(With inputs from PTI)

Published – 17 Jun 2026 15:16 IST