UP bypolls: SP leaves seat, but Congress ‘not keen’ to contest from Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad: With only three days left for candidates to file nomination papers for the Nov 13 bypolls, rift between INDIA bloc partners SP and Congress has tumbled out in the open.
According to sources, Congress is likely to stay out of the fray this time. Of nine seats going to bypolls, SP took a "unilateral decision" to announce candidates in seven, leaving only Ghaziabad and Khair (Aligarh) for Congress.The Ghaziabad seat fell vacant after Atul Garg won the Lok Sabha polls.
"Historically, these two seats have never been a Congress stronghold," said a senior party functionary. "A defeat will adversely affect the morale of Congress workers, more so after the results in Haryana. So, the party has decided to opt out of the race. An official communication will be out soon," he added.
A Congressman who contested from Ghaziabad earlier said the party would continue to back SP should it field candidates from these two seats as well. "There is a buzz in Congress that it will offer Ghaziabad and Khair to SP. We will provide all our support."
Rajkumar Bhati, a spokesperson for SP in Ghaziabad, said Congress wanted to contest from five seats. "We did not agree to this, given our performance in UP in the recent Lok Sabha polls. Moreover, in the Haryana assembly elections, Congress did not show the kind of magnanimity it expects from us in UP while sharing seats. We supported the Congress candidate without any qualms. Now, Congress should do the same for us," he added.
When asked if SP will field a candidate for the remaining two seats as well, Bhati said, "The party brass is yet to take a call on the matter."
In Ghaziabad so far, only Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) — led by Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan' — has announced Satpal Choudhary as its candidate. BSP, which named Ravi Gautam, expelled him for ‘indiscipline' on Oct 1 and is yet to announce a replacement.
Besides Ghaziabad, by-elections will be held in Katehari, Karhal, Meerapur, Kundarki, Phulpur, Sisamau, Majhawan, and Khair. Seven of these seats fell vacant after their MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha, while the bypoll in Sisamau is being held because its SP MLA, Irfan Solanki, was convicted in a criminal case and disqualified.
According to electoral rolls, Ghaziabad has 4.6 lakh voters.