India, Sept. 23 -- SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar has reignited the two-decade-old debate of Uttar Pradesh's division, saying the state will be divided into four parts after a caste census.

Rajbhar, a cabinet minister and an NDA ally, also claimed that he was assured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the division of the state could happen after the caste census, news agency PTI reported. The UP leader made the remarks at 'Samajik Samrasta Maha Rally' organised by the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) in Deoria on Sunday.

"We want to assure you regarding the 27 per cent reservation. I spoke with the prime minister about this," Rajbhar, whose party is currently allied with the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, was quoted as saying.

"He (Modi) ...