Owaisi’s New Ally In UP Is A Party Named After Maharaja Suheldev - The Hindu King Who Defeated Mahmud Of Ghazni’s Nephew

Asaduddin Owaisi led All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) is all set to fight the 2022 Assembly polls to be held in Uttar Pradesh by joining hands with the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP).

The party is named after Hindu king Maharaja Suheldev. He is one the revered Hindu heroes and a great warrior king from the 11th century -- known for having mounted a fierce fight against the army of Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud and defeating him.

SBSP, a local outfit, is led by Om Prakash Rajbhar. It was an ally in the BJP-led NDA government in Uttar Pradesh with Rajbhar as a minister. He parted ways with the NDA. SBSP and AIMIM will be joining other regional parties under the Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha -- their alliance. Owaisi met his alliance partner Rajbhar in Azamgarh.

There will be nine constituents in the Morcha including the SBSP and AIMIM and they will conduct meetings in all 75 district headquarters in Uttar Pradesh on 17 January. They will be putting up a fight against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the state.

The electoral pact between the two has led to a quick development. The AIMIM will fight the panchayat elections in the state. Rajbhar told the local media in Ballia (UP) on 13 January that candidates from Owaisi’s AIMIM are "likely to be fielded in the panchayat elections as the Morcha’s joint candidate". A joint rally is on the cards.

The other partner that the AIMIM is likely to find is Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party–Lohia (PSP-Lohia) led by Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle Shivpal Yadav. The uncle and nephew parted ways in politics when the latter left the Samajwadi Party.

Rajbhar had met Shivpal Yadav, who has been making appeals to the smaller and regional political parties ti join hands, and has expressed his willingness to join the alliance.

Rajbhar left the NDA in 2019. He came to the limelight during the 1990s when the Bahujan Samaj Party (with Kanshi Ram and Mayawati strengthening the party) was making efforts to firm its position in the state.

Rajbhar would be consolidating the support of communities that revere Maharaja Suheldev. In the 2000s, Mayawati would rise as a force in BSP. Rajbhar would float a new party as its leader.

This party was SBSP. Its influence on nearly 20 seats in Purvanchal today could be the reason that Owaisi wants to have it as a partner in the fight in UP.