A faction-ridden BJP has failed to keep NDA together ahead of the coming politically crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Upset over remarks of senior BJP leaders of going alone in the UP polls without even informing its key ally, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav on Monday said his party will contest the polls separately. The JD(U) state unit, sources disclosed, has asked its top brass, including chief Mr Yadav and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, to boycott any poll campaign or rallies addressed by the BJP.
Sources disclosed Mr Yadav was miffed with the BJP for making a statement on the issue which both the parties were still trying to resolve. Mr Yadav, sources said, was also unhappy with the BJP top brass for not being able to convince its state unit to part with more than 20 seats to the JD(U). The BJP, however, is still hopeful of resolving the issue.
“We have decided to contest the elections separately in UP... For the time being, we have decided that the alliance will not happen for the UP elections,” Mr Yadav said.
Sources disclosed that the JD(U), which had earlier demanded 53 seats from its ally, had come down to 30 seats. However, the BJP state unit is reluctant to give more than 20-22.
Senior BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu had on Sunday said that his party will contest the coming polls in five states on its own except in Punjab where the Shiromani Akali Dal is its ally. “The BJP has put us in an awkward situation. Even before informing us, its leaders decided to announce it before the public. If they think they can go alone, our party can also contest UP polls (alone),” said JD(U) general secretary K.C. Tyagi.
The JD(U) chief had also protested when the BJP had announced its first list of candidates as on some of the seats on which the BJP has fielded candidates, the JD(U) wanted to contest. During the last Assembly polls in UP, the BJP had contested along with the JD(U) and Apna Dal.
While the Apna Dal had contested on 36, the JD(U) had fielded candidates on 17 seats.
After the death of Apna Dal chief Sone lal Patel, the JD(U) claims most of the Apna Dal leaders have joined it and therefore, its share should be increased this time.