BJP facing problems in U.P. over seat-sharing

By Our Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW, JAN. 28. The BJP-led coalition in Uttar Pradesh is under severe strain over the sharing of seats for next month's by- elections to eight Assembly seats and the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat. The semblance of unity in the ruling formation has been threatened with the Loktantrik Congress Party (LCP), the Samata Party and the Jantantrik Bahujan Samaj Party (JBSP) challenging the BJP decision to contest seven of the eight Assembly seats.

The BJP had announced candidates for seven Assembly seats, leaving Unnao to the Kisan Mazdoor Bahujan Party (KMBP) and the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat to the LCP. The BJP decision, however, failed to satisfy any of its partners, especially the LCP which announced candidates for all the eight Assembly seats.

The LCP had demanded the Unnao, Pratapgarh and Nakud seats but the BJP did not agree. The JBSP also resented the allotment of the Unnao seat to the KMBP, which was formed by disgruntled BSP MLAs along with those belonging to the JBSP. The Samata Party has also decided to contest two seats.

The BJP might get solace from the fact that a similar fight is on among the Opposition parties. The Samajwadi Party and the BSP are old rivals and are contesting all the seats. The Rashtriya Kranti Party, recently formed by Mr. Kalyan Singh, has also announced its plans to contest all the by-elections.

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Section  : National
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