Om Prakash Rajbhar’s party to contest 42 seats in Bihar, campaign from November 1

Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) national president and Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has said that his party will contest 42 seats in the Bihar Assembly elections.

“We had fielded 53 candidates, but several nominations were rejected, and we are now contesting 42 seats with the ‘stick” election symbol,” he said, adding that he will personally campaign in Bihar from November 1.

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Talking to the media here on Thursday, Om Prakash Rajbhar launched a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party, saying, “SBSP is contesting elections in Bihar, but some SP supporters in Uttar Pradesh are crying like puppies about how we are contesting there.”

Rajbhar didn’t stop there. He alleged that some “people living on the payroll” of the Samajwadi Party (SP) were making baseless comments. “They don’t have the right to speak in front of their leader. Those who are speaking nonsense will have their bail forfeited,” he remarked.

Rajbhar said that the SBSP has been continuously demanding a debate on the Social Justice Committee’s report, but neither the ruling party nor the opposition parties have yet clarified their views on extending reservation benefits to the most backward classes. “The 27 percent reservation should be divided into 7, 9, and 11 percent, so that every category benefits,” he added.

Supporting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s statement on Halal certificates, Rajbhar said, “What the Chief Minister said is correct. The opposition always understands things late. Even during the NRC and CAA, these same people spread the misinformation that Muslims would be stripped of their citizenship. The opposition even held a protest in Shaheen Bagh to address this. What happened there? Did anyone lose their citizenship? Now they are spreading false propaganda about the Waqf Amendment Bill as well.”

Regarding the inhumane incident against a Dalit man in Kakori, he said he condemns such acts. “Strict action should be taken against such people.”

On Swami Prasad Maurya’s statement regarding Diwali, Rajbhar said, “In a democracy, every person has the right to practise their religion. Maurya follows Buddhism, and only he can explain why he said so.”

Responding to Azam Khan’s statement on Diwali, he said, “The purpose of a lamp is to provide light. When Lord Ram triumphed over injustice and oppression, people expressed their joy by lighting lamps.” The lamp is a symbol of light, but he does not agree with Azam Khan’s statement that ‘those who light lamps can burn anything’.”