Political temperature in Uttar Pradesh reached a new high as Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief and State Panchayati Raj Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar launched a fierce attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav. Speaking to media persons during a private visit, Rajbhar threw a direct electoral challenge at the former Chief Minister.
Rajbhar asserted that if Akhilesh Yadav feels hesitant or apprehensive about contesting elections against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Ayodhya, he should first step into the political arena at the Jahoorabad assembly constituency in Ghazipur district to face him directly.
'Face Me in Zahoorabad First': Rajbhar's Open Challenge
Reacting sharply to Akhilesh Yadav's recent statements regarding electoral battles in Ayodhya, Rajbhar remarked that the SP chief makes grand claims without backing them up on the ground. He challenged Yadav to demonstrate his political strength on the grassroots level before taking on top leaders.
"If Akhilesh Yadav hesitates to fight against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from Ayodhya, let him first come to the Jahoorabad seat in Ghazipur and contest against me. Only after winning against me should he dream of challenging Yogi Adityanath."
— Om Prakash Rajbhar, UP Cabinet Minister
Questions Raised Over JPNIC's Rs 865 Crore Expenditure
Turning his focus toward the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) controversy in Lucknow, Rajbhar demanded full accountability from the SP chief over public funds spent during his tenure as Chief Minister. He alleged that over Rs 865 crore was spent on the JPNIC project, yet the construction remained incomplete.
Rajbhar questioned the constitution of the JPNIC steering committee and raised concerns over the roles assigned to family members and close aides. He highlighted that commercial facilities, including luxury hotel rooms, clubs, and gyms, were designed within the complex, asking who was slated to control the revenue generated from public investments.
Rebuttal on Law & Order and 'Vote Theft' Allegations
Addressing opposition criticisms regarding law and order, Rajbhar reminded the SP chief of his own tenure. He claimed that lawlessness, open brandishing of arms, and protection to mafia elements were rampant during the previous SP regime, whereas the current administration maintains strict zero-tolerance toward crime.
Dismissing the opposition's allegations of 'vote theft' and EVM manipulation, Rajbhar pointed to the 2024 Lok Sabha election figures. He noted that if election integrity were compromised, the Samajwadi Party could not have secured 37 seats in UP while the ruling BJP's tally dropped. He advised the opposition to accept democratic verdicts gracefully rather than making baseless accusations after every political setback.
