LucknowNovember 6, 2025 02:56 PM IST
First published on: Nov 6, 2025 at 02:56 PM IST
Ahead of BSP chief Mayawati’s first rally for the Bihar Assembly elections, at Kaimur on Thursday, the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), an ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, has announced its support for the BSP.
In a move that may also have repercussions on politics in Uttar Pradesh, the SBSP said it will support the BSP in all the seats where it does not have a candidate. SBSP national spokesperson Arun Rajbhar told The Indian Express that the decision would benefit both the parties in about 40 seats in Bihar neighbouring UP, which vote in the second phase on November 11.
The alliance between the two would not have had much of an impact in the first phase, for which voting was held on Thursday.
“On seats where the nomination of our candidates was rejected on technical ground or where the SBSP candidates are not contesting, we have decided to support BSP candidates,” Rajbhar said.
The BSP would also support the SBSP in return, he added, putting the number of such constituencies where the SBSP has candidates but not the BSP at 12.
SBSP supporters would be part of the BSP rally in Kaimur on Thursday, Rajbhar said, adding that its alliance with the BJP in UP was “different and intact” and would not be impacted. “We are a part of the NDA there. In Bihar, we are contesting separately and should be viewed independently. Here in Bihar, it is the opinion of our local unit that we should align with the BSP, and their sentiments were taken into account before announcing our support.”
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls, the BSP contested 78 seats, forfeiting its deposit in 73, and winning 1 constituency. It got on average 4.66% of the votes in constituencies it contested. A year after the results, the lone BSP MLA, Jama Khan from the Chainpur Assembly constituency, joined the JD(U) and was made a minister in the state government.
The SBSP contested just 2 seats in Bihar in 2020, and hardly made any impact.
Despite Rajbhar’s denial, all eyes are now on how this alliance unfolds post-Bihar polls, particularly in the 2027 UP elections. The BSP is trying to get together its trademark Dalit votes, apart from that of Muslims and backwards, and the SBSP with its Rajbhar vote fits well into the plan.
In the 2022 UP Assembly polls, the BSP contested all 403 seats and won just 1, Rasra in Ballia district. The SBSP contested 19 seats, winning 6. When the BJP returned to power, SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar was made a minister.