NEW DELHI: Dismissing speculation regarding a rift within the Samajwadi Party (SP), MP Afzal Ansari asserted on Wednesday that there is “no split among Samajwadis.”Ansari emphasized that there is no question of any division within the party, while interacting with reporters. “Others are waiting to break away and infiltrate the Samajwadi Party,” he claimed.He further stated that the SP was the only political force to defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradesh during the 2024 elections and expressed confidence that the party would repeat that performance in the upcoming Assembly elections, news agency ANI reported.Earlier in the day, SP president Akhilesh Yadav took a swipe at UP minister Om Prakash Rajbhar over his remarks suggesting a “major political realignment” within the party. Mocking the claims, Yadav remarked, “Dana aur gana kab tak chalega yeh afsana” (How long will these ‘favors and songs’ continue? ).SP MP Rajeev Rai also dismissed Rajbhar’s assertions, accusing him of making baseless and purposeless statements.“I had said in the Lok Sabha elections of Ghosi that there is a disease of ‘bakbak-itis’ (talkativeness/chatterbox). Now if there is no cure for it, then are we responsible for that? Why do you take all three of them (father and sons) so seriously? This disease also spreads pollution. Don’t ask,” he added further.Meanwhile, as preparations gather pace for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Akhilesh Yadav announced the party’s resolve to change political outcomes in Gorakhpur, ANI reported.Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav said the SP would focus on strengthening its organization in the region. “This time, we will work to bring the BJP to zero in Gorakhpur,” he said, adding that the party would soon decide on holding a meeting in the area.(With agency inputs)
