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‘Respect Flows Both Ways’: Snubbed By NDA, Rajbhar Launches Solo Bihar Campaign
‘Respect Flows Both Ways’: Snubbed By NDA, Rajbhar Launches Solo Bihar Campaign
Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief and Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has decided to chart an independent course in Bihar. Upset with the BJP-led NDA for denying his party any seat in the upcoming assembly elections, Rajbhar says his decision to go solo is not an act of rebellion, but a move borne out of necessity and self-respect.
In an exclusive conversation with News18, Rajbhar spoke about what went wrong with the alliance, his party's election strategy, and the priorities that will shape SBSP's campaign in Bihar.
What led to your decision to break away from the NDA and contest independently in Bihar?
I tried everything—Bihar se Delhi tak pairvi hui, par baat nahi bani. We made every effort to reach an understanding, but when the seat-sharing list came out, our candidates were not included at all. They released the list without consulting us, despite our months of work on the ground. We have been active in 32 districts, yet we were ignored.
Since 1952, no political party has given a single MLA from the Rajbhar community in Bihar. How long can we continue being treated as symbolic partners? That's why we have decided to fight this battle on our own.
How many seats is SBSP planning to contest, and how will you phase your campaign?
We are fielding 52 candidates in the first phase, and then we will launch the next batch in the second phase. Altogether, SBSP will contest 153 seats across Bihar. Our candidates are from local communities, people who have worked at the grassroots for years. We are not fighting just to show strength; we are fighting to give representation to those who never had it.
Were you expecting at least a few seats under the NDA arrangement?
Yes. We had asked for only four to five seats in Bihar. That is not a big demand. But they didn't accommodate even that. They didn't include our candidates and went ahead with their list. This is not how gathbandhan dharma works.
When they needed support during bypolls, they came with folded hands. But now, when the time came to stand by us, they forgot. We even met Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president JP Nadda, and Vinod Tawde to present our plans. Still, nothing moved. So, we decided to stand on our own feet.
What will be SBSP's key focus or poll plank in Bihar?
Our immediate goal is to consolidate our voters — especially the Rajbhar, Prajapati, and Rajbanshi communities, whose population in Bihar ranges between 20,000 and 80,000 votes in several constituencies. All major parties claim their votes, but none of them have ever given them representation.
We will also focus on land, education, and employment. Bihar produces labourers, but why doesn't the government ensure proper education and job opportunities for its youth? Our priority will be to provide land to the needy—those who have been waiting for years but have been denied government land.
We will fight for dignity and development of the backward and marginalised sections who have always been used but never empowered.
Do you still see a chance of reconciliation with the NDA before nominations close?
If they truly want to keep us in the alliance, there is still time. Give us 4-5 seats and we will gladly stand with them. But if they continue to ignore us, we will go ahead on our own. I believe in alliance dharma, but respect must flow both ways. If you treat partners like subordinates, that alliance cannot survive.
Many see this as your party's attempt to gain a foothold outside Uttar Pradesh. Is Bihar part of a larger expansion plan?
Absolutely. We have been working quietly in Bihar for over a year now. Our organisation is active in 32 districts, and we have identified local leaders with credibility. The fight in Bihar is not just political; it's social. It's about giving voice to people who have been invisible in the power structure.
SBSP is a movement as much as a political party. We are expanding where our community lives and Bihar is naturally part of that geography.
What message would you like to give to voters in Bihar?
My message is simple—don't just give your vote, demand respect. For 70 years, parties have taken your votes but never given you representation. Now, we are offering an alternative; one that speaks your language and understands your struggle. We will fight for land, education, employment, and dignity. The people of Bihar deserve both opportunity and respect.
On Sunday, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) finalised its seat-sharing plan for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party, Janata Dal-United (JD-U), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will each contest 101 seats. Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-RV) will compete for 29 seats. Meanwhile, Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) are set to contest six seats each. As the NDA finalises its arithmetic, Rajbhar's decision to go solo has stirred new equations in Bihar's political circle. Whether it will dent the NDA's vote share or merely mark the SBSP's symbolic debut remains to be seen.
Source: News18
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