Rajya Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh: Parties brace for a tough fight

NEW DELHI: The upcoming Rajya Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, scheduled for March 23, are sending political parties into overdrive to ensure they have enough support to guarantee wins.

Part of what has caused this fierce contest is that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which, based on its numbers in the Assembly, can easily get eight candidates elected, has decided to field a ninth - a businessman called Anil Kumar Agarwal.

Previously, it was expected that the BJP will get its eight, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) will get one candidate each - the contest itself is to elect 10 new members to the Upper House of Parliament.

Naresh Agrawal's exit from the SP and joining together with the BJP has also led to speculation that his son and SP MLA Nitin will vote for the ruling party.

It is significant that Nitin, who is the MLA from Hardoi Sadar, attended the 'BJP and ally' meeting called by Adityanath on Wednesday, reported ANI.

Now, how the arithmetic will play out may be anyone's guess.

Here's a look at how different parties are attempting to ensure a win for themselves:


BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY

The BJP is placating disgruntled allies, assuring and reassuring them, and is also appealing to independents and some unhappy elements in rival SP, BSP and Congress to switch loyalties and get cross votes.

For instance, Om Prakash Rajbhar, the president of the Suhaildev Bahujan Samaj Party - an ally with four legislators - red-flagged the performance of the Adityanath government and threatened to remain neutral in the Rajya Sabha polls, reported IANS. BJP chief Amit Shah immediately called him for a meeting in New Delhi.

Subsequently, Rajbhar said he will vote for the BJP candidates.

Independent MLAs like Raghuraj Pratap Singh aka Raja Bhaiyya, Vinod Saroj, Aman Mani Tripathi and Vijay Mishra supported the BJP in the presidential election and could be "easy catch" once more, the party feels.

It is noteworthy that the BJP has 28 extra votes for its ninth candidate and needs nine more votes.

According to news agency IANS, the party may face possible internal strife from several of its 312 lawmakers who are peeved that they were overlooked by the leadership in the past year.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath himself is working to smoothen ruffled feathers, sources shared.


CONGRESS

The Congress has deputed four of its senior leaders in the state to ensure polling in favour of BSP nominee Bhimrao Ambedkar.

These leaders - Pramod Tewari, PL Punia, Sanjay Sinh and Raj Babbar - are expected to stay in Lucknow to assist Congress Legislature Party leader Ajay Kumar Lallu, reported PTI.

The Congress backing the BSP candidate is a move toward the potential stitching together of an anti-BJP front.

"We have decided to join hands with the secular forces against the oppressive and communal politics and decided to vote for the BSP candidate," Lallu said.

The party has seven legislators in the state.


BAHUJAN SAMAJ PARTY

The BSP, which has fielded Bhimrao Ambedkar, has 19 MLAs, and needs 18 more votes to ensure an effortless victory.

With seven Congress MLAs and one from Rashtriya Lok Dal, the Mayawati-led party will be able to get its candidate elected, though after the recent parting of ways of SP leader Naresh Agarwal and his son Nitin Agarwal, who is also an MLA, the Opposition parties are working overtime to work out the arithmetic, reported PTI.


SAMAJWADI PARTY

The Samajwadi Party, which has 47 MLAs, has fielded Jaya Bachchan, and will be left with 10 surplus votes.

Party leaders claimed that not only will they win, they will also ensure a victory for the BSP candidate.

"We know how to contest polls. Our candidate is winning and we are also going to ensure victory of the other (BSP) candidate," PTI quoted senior party leader and MLA Parasnath Yadav as saying.



SP chief Akhilesh Yadav with wife Dimple Yadav, Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan, uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav and others at a dinner party for members in Lucknow. (ANI Photo)

(With inputs from agencies)