Split speculation are now haunting the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party after internal turmoil in two major opposition parties in two states — the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by ex-West Bengal CM and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (Shiv Sena-UBT) in Maharashtra.
L: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath | R: Samajwadi Party supremo and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav (PTI and Arvind Yadav/HT)
In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress has been hit by one of its biggest crises since losing the recent Assembly election to the BJP. The party is facing a twin challenge - a rebellion by MLAs in the state assembly and a revolt by MPs in Parliament.
In Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT ) is also battling speculation of a split with ‘Operation Tiger’ gaining momentum. Operation Tiger is the name given to the alleged attempts by Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party to poach Sena (UBT) elected representatives.
The SP is now firefighting the split speculation blaze, triggered by an Uttar Pradesh minister's big claim and trashed by Samajwadi Party leadership, including Akhilesh Yadav himself.
Where does SP split speculation stem from
Amid turmoil in West Bengal's Trinamool Congress and buzz of a brewing split in Maharashtra's Shiv Sena (UBT), speculation of a possible split in former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP) surfaced on Wednesday after state minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief OP Rajbhar claimed that the opposition party could face a major exodus.
In a cryptic post on X, Rajbhar alleged that senior SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav had approached Centre amid mounting pressure over alleged corruption cases and claimed that several party leaders were preparing to switch sides.
“A major split is going to happen in the Samajwadi Party. Ram Gopal Yadav has submitted a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji. Everyone in Uttar Pradesh knows who the mastermind behind the mining scam and Gomti River Front scam is. As the noose tightens, the SP is getting anxious,” the post in Hindi stated.
Forget Maharashtra and Bengal— the entire SP is sitting ready to join the BJP, Rajbhar added in the post.
Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya claimed Wednesday that 25 to 26 Samajwadi Party MPs are poised to leave the party ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, while denying that the BJP is attempting to facilitate any defections.
Speaking to reporters in Kanpur, Maurya denied that the BJP is attempting to split the Samajwadi Party (SP), stating, “We are not breaking them; by 2027, they will break away on their own.” He criticised SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, suggesting that the party is no longer managed by his inner circle.
Addressing reports of political instability, Maurya attributed internal unrest in opposition parties to “dynastic politics, corruption and criminality,” arguing that any resulting fractures are the responsibility of those parties, not the BJP.
What Samajwadi Party said
The Samajwadi Party leadership, including supremo Akhilesh Yadav, trashed the claims but acknowledged the need for a brave challenger to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is getting heavier on the political weighing scale with the defections in opposition parties
Addressing the media at the SP headquarters in Lucknow, Yadav said, “The SP remains united. It has weathered many ups and downs in its journey. It is a strong party, and it remains strong. Our people are brave.”
He accused the BJP of having a long history of engineering defections in Opposition parties through inducements, fear and pressure.
“If you look at Uttar Pradesh, several SP MLAs, MLCs and even Rajya Sabha members, were poached. There must have been some self-interest, some lure or some fear. People who get scared leave their party,” an earlier HT report quoted Yadav.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister emphasised that confronting the BJP requires courage and conviction.
“If the BJP has to be challenged, there should be a team of brave people,” he said.
Recalling his earlier statements, Yadav noted that he had no intention of engineering splits in the BJP, but warned that some of the ruling party’s own legislators in Uttar Pradesh showed signs of discontent and might switch sides at the opportune moment.
In a veiled attack on Rajbhar later, without taking his name, Akhilesh Yadav wrote on X, “Those making predictions should clarify whether the BJP is actually offering their party 75 seats, 50, or merely empty assurances. The people who paid them advances — based on rumors they spread about getting 30 seats through an alliance with the BJP — are now looking for them.”
OP Rajbhar shared multiple posts on X since his first claim, with the latest one warning Akhilesh Yadav of what he described as an "entire bundle of files".
“Where is the money from mining and Gomti River Front being squandered? This fact is known not just to Dimple, Ram Gopal…
Read the full article at Hindustan Times →📄Source document: Om Prakash Rajbhar's X post→7 reports
Times of IndiaIndependentRight2 days ago 'Party will split': Rajbhar claims Akhilesh's 'real uncle' will take over SPUttar Pradesh minister and SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar accused Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav of looking down upon non-Yadav communities and claimed the SP is heading toward a split. Rajbhar suggested that the 'real uncle' of Akhilesh Yadav would eventually take control of the party's remaining organization. The SP has denied these allegations, calling them misinformation spread by the BJP-led NDA.
Bias read (Right): The article presents claims made by Om Prakash Rajbhar, who is aligned with the opposition SBSP, suggesting internal divisions within the ruling Samajwadi Party. The framing emphasizes accusations against SP leadership and implies a potential split, which aligns with narratives often found in right-
Hindustan TimesIndependentCenter3 days ago Samajwadi Party split rumours, buzz of early assembly polls: What is happening in UP politicsSpeculation about a potential split within the Samajwadi Party (SP), led by former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, has intensified amid internal conflicts in other opposition parties such as the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. The SP is responding to rumors fueled by claims made by an Uttar Pradesh minister, which were later dismissed by SP leadership.
Bias read (Center): The article presents information about political developments without overtly favoring any side. It reports on speculation regarding splits in multiple parties but does not use biased language or selectively present information to support a particular viewpoint. The framing remains neutral, focusing
Official sources cited
- organisation Samajwadi Party leadership statements
- organisation Trinamool Congress internal challenges
- organisation Shiv Sena (UBT) internal conflict
Hindustan TimesIndependentLeft3 days ago BJP rattled by Akhilesh Yadav's rising popularity, says Samajwadi MP amid split buzzAkhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party (SP), has denied reports of a potential split within his party, while BJP leaders have suggested otherwise. Samajwadi MP Awadhesh Prasad accused the BJP of being 'rattled' by Yadav's rising popularity and making 'baseless statements' about SP members defecting. These comments follow claims by Uttar Pradesh officials that a major split is brewing in the SP.
Bias read (Left): The article frames the BJP as being 'rattled' by the rising popularity of Akhilesh Yadav, a prominent leader of the opposition Samajwadi Party. The language used suggests a defensive stance toward the SP and implies criticism of the BJP's motives, which aligns with a left-leaning perspective. The ph
The HinduIndependentCenter4 days ago War of words erupts in U.P. as BJP ally claims split in Samajwadi Party; Akhilesh hits backA political dispute unfolded in Uttar Pradesh as BJP ally Om Prakash Rajbhar alleged that the Samajwadi Party (SP) is facing a significant split, with several leaders considering joining the BJP. Rajbhar claimed that Ram Gopal Yadav had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and suggested that the SP leadership was concerned over ongoing investigations into scams. Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav responded critically to these allegations. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya added that approximately 26-27 SP MPs were prepared to switch allegiance ahead of the 2027 Assembly选举.
Bias read (Center): The article presents statements from both BJP allies and Samajwadi Party officials without overtly favoring one side. It reports claims of potential splits within the SP but does not explicitly endorse or criticize either perspective, maintaining a balanced tone.
Official sources cited
- government Om Prakash Rajbhar
- government Keshav Prasad Maurya
- government Akhilesh Yadav
Scroll.inIndependentRight4 days ago 25-26 Samajwadi Party MPs ready to defect, claims Uttar Pradesh deputy chief ministerUttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Pratap Maurya claimed that 25 to 26 Samajwadi Party MPs are ready to defect ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. He stated that the Samajwadi Party is not being run by Akhilesh Yadav. State minister and BJP ally Om Prakash Rajbhar also suggested a major split is coming in the Samajwadi Party. Additionally, it was mentioned that Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav had submitted a letter to BJP leader Amit Shah.
Bias read (Right): The article presents claims from BJP-aligned officials suggesting internal instability within the Samajwadi Party, which is a political rival. The framing emphasizes potential defections and criticism of the Samajwadi Party leadership, aligning with BJP interests. The article does not provide direct
The Indian ExpressIndependentLeft4 days ago BJP engineered splits in many parties; poached SP MLAs in UP: Akhilesh YadavAkhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party (SP), accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engineering splits within several political parties and of poaching SP members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) in Uttar Pradesh.
Bias read (Left): The headline and summary present accusations against the ruling BJP by a leader of the opposition SP, which is typically aligned with leftist politics in India. The framing emphasizes the BJP's alleged actions without providing counterpoints or balanced perspectives from the BJP side.
India TodayIndependentCenter6 days ago Why the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation row forced an SIT probeThe Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate allegations of irregularities in donations received at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The trust managing the temple requested the probe to address rumors and ensure transparency. The controversy arose after reports suggested issues with how donations were handled, prompting criticism from the Samajwadi Party's leader, Akhilesh Yadav, who called for greater accountability.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the situation neutrally, citing both the formation of the SIT by the government and the concerns raised by the opposition. It does not favor either side but highlights the request by the temple trust and the criticisms from the SP. The language remains factual without evident sl
Official sources cited
- organisation Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust
- government Uttar Pradesh Government