New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: O P Rajbhar-headed Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) on Sunday rejoined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance ahead of the 2024 general election.

The former ally of the Samajwadi Party returned to NDA after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah here.

"Met Shri @oprajbhar ji in Delhi and he decided to join the NDA alliance led by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. I welcome him to the NDA family," Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted.

"The joining of Rajbhar ji will strengthen the NDA in Uttar Pradesh and the efforts being made by the NDA under the leadership of Modi ji for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden will be further bolstered," Shah added.

The BJP-SBSP alliance came a day after SP MLA Dara Singh Chauhan quit the membership of the UP assembly and the Akhilesh Yadav-led outfit and met Shah.

Reacting after joining the NDA, O P Rajbhar in a tweet said, "Bharatiya Janata Party and Suheldev will fight together for the protection of social justice in the country, security, good governance, deprived, oppressed, backward, Dalits, women, farmers, youth, every weak class."

"Met Hon'ble Home Minister, Government of India Shri Amit Shah ji in Delhi and decided to join the NDA alliance led by Hon'ble Prime Minister respected Shri@narendramodi ji. I thank Mr. Amit Shah, Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Chief Minister, Mr. JP JP Nadda," O P Rajbhar added.

OP Rajbhar had fought the last year's state elections in UP against the BJP as an ally of the Samajwadi Party.

In 2017, the SBSP fought the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election in alliance with the BJP. Om Prakash Rajbhar even served as a minister in the Yogi Adityanath-led cabinet till 2019.