Mayawati, who held a meeting of party leaders here, relieved Swami Prasad Maurya from the post of the state unit president and appointed Rajbhar, who was transport minister during the BSP regime, in his place, party sources said.
As Maurya had been given many responsibilities including that of the leader of opposition in the UP legislative assembly, the post of state president has been given to Rajbhar for giving BSP a new momentum, they said.
The BSP chief also issued directives to party office bearers and leaders to start preparations for the Lok Sabha elections slated for 2014.
When contacted, Rajbhar said he would work hard to strengthen the party at the grassroot level so as to help Mayawati reach Delhi in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.