Arvind Rajbhar Warns BJP: SBSP Will Contest Alone if Denied Seats

In a dramatic escalation shaking the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) national general secretary Arvind Rajbhar has delivered a clear ultimatum: if the BJP refuses to share seats, his party will go it alone. The bold statement, issued on October 12, 2025, exposes deepening cracks in the ruling coalition as intense negotiations unfold for the crucial polls slated for November 6 and 11.

Arvind Rajbhar, the prominent eldest son of Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Raj Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, laid it out plainly in an exclusive PTI interview. "SBSP is fully committed to contesting the Bihar Assembly elections. If seat talks with the BJP collapse, we'll proceed independently without hesitation," he declared. Representing a vital NDA ally with deep ties in the Purvanchal belt across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the party has forwarded a list of 29 winnable seats to BJP leaders, insisting on a minimum of five to maintain the partnership.

Tensions spiked when Rajbhar disclosed an intriguing overture from the rival Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). "RJD has extended a concrete offer for us to ally on five seats," he revealed, noting that the Bihar RJD chief held discussions with SBSP's state election coordinator on Saturday, capped by a leadership call on Sunday. This overture from the opposition camp illustrates the high-wire seat negotiations in Bihar, where shifting allegiances could dramatically alter poll dynamics.

Also Read: NDA to Unveil Bihar Seat-Sharing Formula and Candidate List Today

Rajbhar also recounted a fresh contact from BJP national president J.P. Nadda, who called him today to assess SBSP's electoral footprint. "I detailed our substantial influence in 32 districts," Rajbhar said, highlighting the party's appeal among OBC and Dalit voters—key blocs in a diverse state like Bihar. For the BJP, which dominated the 2015-2020 term, alienating SBSP risks eroding support in critical areas.

The 243-seat Bihar Assembly elections pit Nitish Kumar's NDA—encompassing BJP, JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), and smaller partners—against the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, featuring Congress, Left fronts, and independents. Polling kicks off with 121 seats on November 6, followed by 122 on November 11, and results on November 14. The NDA currently commands 138 seats to the opposition's 103, but simmering discontent over jobs, inflation, and governance could flip the script.

Complicating matters is Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party, the strategist-turned-politician's disruptive entry, which has named candidates for 51 seats and zeroed in on hotspots like Tejashwi Yadav's Raghopur. SBSP's defiant stance amplifies the uncertainty in this powder-keg political theater. Will the BJP concede to secure unity, or gamble on a fractured NDA? As deadlines loom, Bihar's battleground is buzzing with anticipation.

Also Read: NDA Finalizes Bihar Seat-Sharing Deal, Chirag Paswan Gets 26 Seats