Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday took a sharp dig at Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief and Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar. In a sarcastic remark, Yadav said that Rajbhar’s name should be “OP Raatbhar” (meaning ‘all night’), as he spends his nights contemplating political defections.
Speaking at a public gathering, Akhilesh quipped, “He is not OP Rajbhar; he is OP Raatbhar, because he keeps thinking about changing alliances all night long.”
This jibe comes amid growing criticism of Rajbhar’s shifting political stance. Once an ally of the Samajwadi Party, Rajbhar is now a minister in the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh. His frequent changes in political allegiance have drawn flak from opposition parties, who accuse him of being driven by opportunism rather than ideology.
Akhilesh further remarked that the people of Uttar Pradesh have become increasingly aware of such political flip-flops. “Leaders who change their ideology every few months have been exposed. The public now sees through their motives,” he added.
As election momentum picks up in the state, Akhilesh’s remarks are being seen as part of a broader strategy to question the credibility of leaders who have crossed over to the ruling camp.
All eyes are now on OP Rajbhar for his response to the SP chief’s biting commentary.
