Ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha election, the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief OP Rajbhar has joined National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced Rajbhar’s entry into NDA fold again on social media.
"The arrival of Rajbhar ji will strengthen the NDA in Uttar Pradesh," Shah said.
"We met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 14 and decided to fight the 2024 elections together. I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for taking us along," OP Rajbhar said.
Earlier, SBSP had fought the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election in alliance with the BJP.
Rajbhar has also served as a minister in the Yogi Adityanath-led cabinet till 2019, until he was sacked for "anti-alliance activities".
The SBSP then fought the 2022 Assembly election in alliance with Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party. Last year, Rajbhar ended the alliance with SP.
Over the past few weeks, BJP has launched a massive outreach programme to strengthen NDA against Opposition for 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Earlier, there were speculations that BJP is reaching out to Rajbhar to further strengthen the NDA ahead of the polls.
