Sulking BJP ally to play spoilsport in Rajya Sabha polls?

Lucknow: After its unexpected defeat in the recent Lok Sabha bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur, the ruling BJP might be in for fresh trouble in this week’s Rajya Sabha polls on 10 seats from Uttar Pradesh, with a sulking ally keeping its cards close to its chest.

While the BJP has the numbers to send its eight candidates to the Upper House, its ally, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), which has four MLAs in the 403-member UP Assembly, holds key to the fate of its ninth nominee.

The SP and the BSP exude confident they would win two of the 10 seats. The polls are scheduled for March 23.

“How can I tell you that whether we will be voting for the BJP or any other party in the Rajya Sabha elections? We are yet to take a final stand on this,” SBSP chief Omprakash Rajbhar told PTI.

He said his party was not consulted by the BJP before announcing the candidate.

“We are still in alliance with the BJP,” he said, “but did they consult us before finalising their candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections and Lok Sabha bypolls (Gorakhpur and Phulpur)?”

“They fielded their candidates in the urban local bodies polls, but did they appropriately discharge the alliance dharma. In the Lok Sabha bypoll did they ever ask the alliance partners what could be their possible roles?” he rued. UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said the BJP had fielded an extra candidate, as it would be left with 28 additional first preference votes even after ensuring victory of eight of its nominees.

“I see no harm in fielding an extra candidate. We have the maximum number of 28 surplus votes, you will see how nine more votes come to take the score to 37 votes required for victory,” Mr Adityanath told a reporter here.

The SBSP chief also said, “Unless someone (from BJP) asks us, how will talks take place? Should I go and say that I will vote for you.”

“Finalising the candidate is their job, not ours. But, as a courtesy they should ask at least once as to whether we will join them in campaigning. No leader asked us. In this scenario, how can I tell you whether we will vote for BJP or any other party in the RS polls. We are yet to take a final call,” he said.