SP split real or BJP's mind game? Decoding UP defection buzz ahead of 2027 polls
The political buzz over a possible split in the Samajwadi Party (SP) has intensified after a series of provocative claims by BJP leaders and allies
The political buzz over a possible split in the Samajwadi Party (SP) has intensified after a series of provocative claims by BJP leaders and allies, even as the Akhilesh Yadav-led party dismissed the speculation as a calculated attempt to dent its morale ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The speculation gathered momentum on Wednesday when BJP ally and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar claimed in a social media post that as many as 30 Samajwadi Party MPs could break away from the party at any moment. Hours later, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya appeared to bolster the narrative, asserting that 25-26 SP MPs were ready to switch sides and that the BJP itself was not willing to accommodate them. He further claimed that the Samajwadi Party could face a political collapse more severe than that of the Trinamool Congress after the 2027 Assembly polls. Read Full Story The remarks come amid a period of turbulence within opposition ranks. Following the split among Trinamool Congress MPs and reports that six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs are on the verge of joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, attention has now shifted to the Samajwadi Party, which emerged as the BJP's principal challenger in Uttar Pradesh after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Political observers view the growing narrative around a possible SP split as part of a broader BJP strategy to keep its strongest rival on the defensive. With the Samajwadi Party expected to spearhead the opposition challenge in 2027, any perception of internal instability could weaken the party long before voters head to the polls. The speculation has not been driven solely by BJP leaders. Akhilesh Yadav's recent comments have also fuelled political chatter. Responding to questions on developments within the Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), the SP chief stressed the need for strong allies to take on the BJP and remarked that only weak people abandon their parties. While the comments were made in a broader political context, some observers interpreted them as a response to growing rumours of defections within the SP. Samajwadi Party leaders have firmly rejected the claims, accusing Rajbhar and other BJP allies of deliberately spreading misinformation. The party maintains that there is no threat of a split and describes the allegations as politically motivated. Yet BJP allies continue to amplify the speculation. Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad claimed that some MPs exploring a political switch were in touch with him and said he would discuss the matter with the BJP's central leadership in Delhi.
The BriefWire