After deciding to field candidates in nine of the ten upcoming by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is now working to resolve tensions with its ally, the Nishad Party, which had staked a claim to two seats.
The BJP has allocated one seat to the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), but the Nishad Party remains unsatisfied with the BJP's current proposal, leading to internal friction within the ruling alliance.
In an effort to resolve the issue, BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhary, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, have been tasked with negotiating with Nishad Party President Sanjay Nishad. The dispute revolves around the Katehari and Majhawan constituencies, which Sanjay Nishad claims should be allocated to his party, as they were in the 2022 assembly elections.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the three BJP leaders to engage in discussions with Sanjay Nishad in hopes of reaching a compromise. However, sources suggest that the BJP is inclined to offer only one seat to the Nishad Party, and that too with the condition that the candidate would contest under the BJP symbol. This proposal has reportedly not been well-received by Sanjay Nishad, who has yet to agree to the offer.
The BJP finalized its strategy for the by-elections in a high-level meeting held in Delhi on Sunday. The party has decided to contest nine of the ten assembly seats, with the Meerapur seat being reserved for its ally, the RLD. Meerapur, historically an RLD stronghold, has been given back to the party for the by-elections, further complicating the situation with the Nishad Party.
An official announcement of BJP's candidates is expected soon, and the dates for the by-elections are likely to be declared within a few days. Sources indicate that the central leadership, after thorough discussions with the BJP Core Committee, finalized the list of candidates based on a panel submitted earlier.
Sanjay Nishad, however, remains firm in his demand for both the Katehari and Majhawan seats. He has underscored the importance of "Alliance Dharma" (alliance principles), questioning why the Nishad Party’s claims have not been honored, especially since these constituencies were allocated to his party in the 2022 elections. Nishad drew a parallel to the Meerapur seat being reserved for the RLD, emphasizing that similar consideration should be extended to his party. "Alliance Dharma should be followed," Nishad remarked. He argued that just as Meerapur was allocated to the RLD due to their past victory, the Katehari and Majhawan seats should likewise be given to the Nishad Party, maintaining consistency with previous arrangements.
Upcoming by-elections and political implications
The upcoming by-elections will be held in the constituencies of Karhal, Milkipur, Katehari, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Meerapur, Phulpur, Majhawan, and Sisamau. Out of these ten seats, five are currently held by the Samajwadi Party (SP), while the RLD and Nishad Party each hold one seat. The remaining three seats are under the control of the BJP.
For the BJP, these by-elections are seen as a significant opportunity to consolidate its position in the state ahead of the general elections in 2024. At the same time, it faces challenges in maintaining its alliance dynamics, particularly with the Nishad Party.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, has forged an alliance with the Congress for the by-elections. The SP plans to field candidates in six seats, with speculation suggesting that it may allocate two seats to Congress as part of the agreement. This alliance is viewed as a critical counterbalance to the BJP-led coalition.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has also finalized its list of candidates for most constituencies, adding another layer of complexity to the political landscape. With multiple parties vying for control of key constituencies, the by-elections are shaping up to be a litmus test for the broader political landscape in Uttar Pradesh.
The by-elections are being closely watched as they are expected to set the tone for upcoming political battles in the state. For the BJP, the challenge lies not only in securing the maximum number of seats but also in managing alliance partners like the Nishad Party. For the SP-Congress alliance, the by-elections represent an opportunity to regain lost ground and present a united front against the ruling coalition.
