Top opposition leaders took a firm stand against swirling rumours of internal mutiny, with Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav dismissing claims of a split in Uttar Pradesh.
In Lucknow, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav fiercely brushed aside claims made by Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar, who alleged that a major split was brewing within the SP due to the pressure of ongoing investigation “scams.” Rajbhar even claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that senior SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav had submitted a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Yadav completely rejected the narrative, stating that the SP remains united and strong despite weathering many political ups and downs. He said, “If the BJP has to be challenged, there should be a team of brave people… People who get scared leave their party.”
Yadav accused the BJP of a track record of fracturing rival parties by exploiting self-interest, lures, or fear, noting that several SP MLAs, MLCs, and Rajya Sabha members had been targeted in the past. The former Chief Minister claimed that while he has no intention of engineering a counter-split, it is actually the BJP’s own legislators in Uttar Pradesh who are secretly preparing to jump ship when the time is right.
