Hours after exit polls predicted landslide wins for the BJP across India including Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has removed the only minister from an alliance partner in the cabinet. Om Prakash Rajbhar of the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party was dropped from the cabinet a day after exit polls results favouring the BJP were broadcast by channels across India.
Rajbhar has been publicly criticising Adityanath for over a year. Reacting to the news of being dropped from the cabinet, Rajbhar told reporters that he welcomed Adityanath’s decision adding that the decision was delayed one. He said that he had resigned in April, but the chief minister had not accepted his resignation.
Last month, there were reports of Rajbhar storming into Adityanath’s official residence in Lucknow at 3 am, demanding to meet him. He had only left the house after being told that Adityanath was sleeping. Rajbhar has often accused the Adityanath government of neglecting the backward castes.
The BJP had won a historic landslide in 2017 by winning 325 seats in the 408-seat UP assembly. Several exit polls on Sunday predicted the saffron party to win more seats this time than the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. According to Aaj Tak TV, the BJP was expected to repeat its performance in Uttar Pradesh by winning up to 68 seats despite five years of anti-incumbency and opposition alliance.