Lucknow: After a strong performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the India Alliance is keen to contest every election together, at least in Uttar Pradesh where this formula has proven to be most effective. In UP, by-elections for 10 vacant assembly seats will be held soon. One of these seats, Seesamau (Kanpur), was vacated due to the sentencing of SP MLA Irfan Solanki, while nine other assembly members have now become Lok Sabha MPs.
Several MLAs Become MPs, Seats Vacant in UP
SP MLAs Akhilesh Yadav, Awadhesh Prasad, Lalji Verma, and Ziaur Rahman Barkan's seats were vacated after they were elected as Lok Sabha members. Akhilesh Yadav won the 2022 assembly election from Karhal, Awadhesh Prasad from Milkipur, Lalji Verma from Katehari, and Ziaur Rahman from Kundarki. BJP MLA Anoop Pradhan Valmiki from Khair, Atul Garg from Ghaziabad, and Praveen Patel from Phulpur have also now become Lok Sabha members, leaving these spots vacant. Additionally, Nishad Party MLA Vinod Kumar Bind from Majhwan (Mirzapur) and RLD MLA Chandan Chauhan from Meerut have also now become MPs.
Will SP and Congress Form an Alliance?
Though it seems straightforward for the opposition, it's not as simple. SP sources suggest the party is only willing to give Congress a maximum of two seats, with the most discussed being Ghaziabad and Mirzapur. Congress sources, however, indicate that the party wants at least five seats, arguing that they should contest where SP lost previously. Leaders from both parties are not publicly addressing these matters, and SP also seeks participation with Congress in Maharashtra and Haryana.
Party Dynamics and Seat Allocation
In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, SP won two seats. They've decided to claim more based on previous successes. In Haryana, Muslim-Yadav equations dominate 20 seats, which SP aims to leverage. SP spokesman Fakhrul Hasan Chand mentions that while SP and Congress have an alliance in UP, decisions on seat allocation will be made by SP leadership when the time comes.
Chand notes that Awadhesh Prasad's son Ajit Prasad is confirmed to contest from Ayodhya, and preparations are underway. Sources suggest Tej Pratap Yadav from Karhal, Chhaya Verma, Lalji Verma's daughter from Ambedkar Nagar, Haji Rizwan from Kundarki, and Kadir Rana from Meerut are under consideration. A ticket might also go to someone from Irfan Solanki's family in Kanpur. SP has not yet announced any names officially and may resort to their Lok Sabha election formula.
BJP Taunts the Opposition
Meanwhile, BJP is mocking the opposition. BJP spokesman Rakesh Tripathi tells Aaj Tak that SP doesn't have a good history with alliances, often forming and then breaking them post-elections. Tensions are surfacing as SP demands seats in Maharashtra and Haryana.
He asserts the BJP is fully prepared with its alliance and strategies. The party is holding meetings, and CM Yogi is reviewing development works to ensure BJP's victory. Every effort is underway to ensure the BJP's symbol, the lotus, blooms in the by-elections.
Seat Sharing Challenges
UP Congress President Ajay Rai reiterates, 'We will win all 10 by-election seats emphatically. SP and Congress are contesting together. The entire atmosphere is in our favor. The public is fed up with the BJP's façade. On BJP's claims of coordination issues, he asks why they are worried about SP and Congress. Also, he mentions the disarray within BJP, stating there's no harmony between Yogi Ji and Amit Shah or between Yogi Ji and Keshav Maurya.
Internal conflicts are evident. Regular meetings are held, mediated by various entities, even involving the central leadership. BJP should focus on their coordination and stop meddling in others. It's clear that whether it's the India Alliance or BJP, seat sharing in this by-election won't be easy for anyone.
