Significantly both the allies — Suhaildev Bhartiya Samaj Party and Apna Dal — are accusing the BJP central leadership of their genuine demands. And to the shock of BJP the allies stayed away from various functions organised during the recent visit of PM Narendra Modi in Varanasi and Ghazipur.

Cabinet minister and president of Suheldeo Bhartiya Samaj Party Om Prakash Rajbhar had been attacking the BJP leadership and Yogi government for the deterioration in law and order and mounting corruption in the state.

On many occasions Rajbhar, who is an important backward leader of eastern UP, attacked the BJP leaders on the issue of mob lynching, cow vigilante and law and order. He complained that the BJP was not following coalition dharma and ignoring the allies. He is also demanding that there should be division in backward reservation and all backwards should be given representation according to their proportion in the society.

Rajbhar has announced that if the BJP continues to ignore his party, it would contest in all the 80 Lok Sabha seats. There are also indications that he is in touch with other parties for negotiating a better deal for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Similarly, the other alliance partner Apna Dal, having command over the powerful Kurmi backward community, is also sulking for not getting positive response from the BJP leadership. Apna Dal president Anupriya Patel is minister of state in the Union ministry but she has complained that she was being ignored in programmes related to her ministry.

Her husband Asheesh was made MLC by the BJP, but the promotion to minister of state Bahadur Singh to Cabinet was not carried out, despite a promise to that effect. Apna Dal has announced that if BJP failed to give adequate representation or proper recognition to the party, they would also think of approaching new allies. Apna Dal is also demanding more seats in Lok Sabha polls.

The manner in which BJP surrendered before Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan and gave more seats to them has boosted the morale of allies in UP and they are mounting pressure for more seats. The BJP’s search for more allies in UP is also due to the compulsion to retain its 73 seats, including two won by Apna Dal.

As Samajwadi Party showed no interest in dealing with another faction of Apna Dal led by Krishna Patel, mother of Anupriya Patel and wife of the late Sonelal Patel, who had tremendous hold over the powerful kurmi backward community, it is now being approached by the BJP leaders.

The BJP leadership is working on seat adjustments with the Jansatta Party of powerful Thakur leader Raghuraj Pratap Singh. Recently Raghuraj Pratap, popularly known as Raja Bhaiyya, organised a massive rally in Lucknow, which was attended by his supporters, especially from Thakur community. Addressing the rally, he talked about the misuse of SC and ST Act against members of upper castes.

Raja Bhaiyya, who was sent to jail by Mayawati during her regime, had been close to Mulayam Singh Yadav and was cabinet minister in his government. But ever since Akhilesh Yadav announced his intention to join hands with Mayawati, Raja Bhaiyya moved closer to BJP and met CM Yogi. It is likely that Raja Bhaiyya may get two or more seats in and around his home district Pratapgarh in return of help in getting support from the powerful Thakur community for BJP.

BJP is also seen likely to negotiate with other smaller parties and groups working in the interest of their castes and sub-castes for greater consolidation for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. (IPA Service)