By
Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: Fed up with sustained
pressure from the allies in UP, the BJP may look for other alliance partners
for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Significantly
both the allies — Suhaildev Bhartiya Samaj Party and Apna Dal — are accusing
the BJP central leadership of their genuine demands. And to the shock of BJP
the allies stayed away from various functions organised during the recent visit
of PM Narendra Modi in Varanasi and Ghazipur.
Cabinet
minister and president of Suheldeo Bhartiya Samaj Party Om Prakash Rajbhar had
been attacking the BJP leadership and Yogi government for the deterioration in
law and order and mounting corruption in the state.
On
many occasions Rajbhar, who is an important backward leader of eastern UP,
attacked the BJP leaders on the issue of mob lynching, cow vigilante and law
and order. He complained that the BJP was not following coalition dharma and
ignoring the allies. He is also demanding that there should be division in
backward reservation and all backwards should be given representation according
to their proportion in the society.
Rajbhar
has announced that if the BJP continues to ignore his party, it would contest
in all the 80 Lok Sabha seats. There are also indications that he is in touch
with other parties for negotiating a better deal for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Similarly,
the other alliance partner Apna Dal, having command over the powerful Kurmi
backward community, is also sulking for not getting positive response from the
BJP leadership. Apna Dal president Anupriya Patel is minister of state in the
Union ministry but she has complained that she was being ignored in programmes
related to her ministry.
Her
husband Asheesh was made MLC by the BJP, but the promotion to minister of state
Bahadur Singh to Cabinet was not carried out, despite a promise to that effect.
Apna Dal has announced that if BJP failed to give adequate representation or
proper recognition to the party, they would also think of approaching new
allies. Apna Dal is also demanding more seats in Lok Sabha polls.
The
manner in which BJP surrendered before Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and
Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan and gave more seats to them has boosted the
morale of allies in UP and they are mounting pressure for more seats. The BJP’s
search for more allies in UP is also due to the compulsion to retain its 73
seats, including two won by Apna Dal.
As
Samajwadi Party showed no interest in dealing with another faction of Apna Dal
led by Krishna Patel, mother of Anupriya Patel and wife of the late Sonelal
Patel, who had tremendous hold over the powerful kurmi backward community, it
is now being approached by the BJP leaders.
The
BJP leadership is working on seat adjustments with the Jansatta Party of
powerful Thakur leader Raghuraj Pratap Singh. Recently Raghuraj Pratap,
popularly known as Raja Bhaiyya, organised a massive rally in Lucknow, which
was attended by his supporters, especially from Thakur community. Addressing
the rally, he talked about the misuse of SC and ST Act against members of upper
castes.
Raja
Bhaiyya, who was sent to jail by Mayawati during her regime, had been close to
Mulayam Singh Yadav and was cabinet minister in his government. But ever since
Akhilesh Yadav announced his intention to join hands with Mayawati, Raja
Bhaiyya moved closer to BJP and met CM Yogi. It is likely that Raja Bhaiyya may
get two or more seats in and around his home district Pratapgarh in return of
help in getting support from the powerful Thakur community for BJP.
BJP
is also seen likely to negotiate with other smaller parties and groups working
in the interest of their castes and sub-castes for greater consolidation for
the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. (IPA Service)
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