Lucknow: With nine assembly seats set to go for bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, discussions between the BJP and its allies over seat allocation seem to be reaching a critical juncture. Sanjay Nishad, president of the Nishad Party, has expressed his firm stand on contesting the elections using his party’s own symbol, putting pressure on the BJP for favorable seat-sharing terms.
Key Highlights:
- Sanjay Nishad’s Demand: Nishad Party President, Sanjay Nishad, stated that his party should contest the elections under its own symbol and stressed the need to increase its influence in the state. He is currently in Delhi, having stationed himself there to negotiate with top BJP leaders, but the seat allocation discussions have yet to bear fruit.
- Delhi Meetings with BJP Leadership: Sanjay Nishad is expected to meet with BJP’s central leadership, including party president JP Nadda. He is also likely to meet Home Minister Amit Shah and General Secretary Sunil Bansal to finalize the seat-sharing arrangements.
- No Confirmation Yet: While the process of filing nominations for the bypolls began on October 18 and will continue until October 25, the seat-sharing formula between BJP and Nishad Party remains unresolved. Reports suggest that BJP is reluctant to concede the Meerapur seat to Nishad Party.
- Nishad’s Pressure Tactics: Sanjay Nishad has reportedly begun to mobilize party workers, stating that his party must contest on its own symbol. Additionally, the Nishad Party is claiming the Meerapur and Madha seats, which were previously won by the BJP.
Nishad Party’s growing influence has added complexity to NDA’s internal negotiations, especially since Nishad Party had registered significant victories in earlier elections.
