The BJP's two allies in Uttar Pradesh are not very happy with the saffron party and have been making efforts to find new 'alternatives'. The leader of one of the parties met Priyanka Gandhi Vadra recently, while the other is talking to the Samajwadi Party.
Both the allies—Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and Apna Dal—have been at loggerheads with the BJP for some time. The parties have been accusing the BJP of according step-motherly treatment to them.
SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar, who is a minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, wants the BJP to give more reservations in the OBC category for implementing the recommendations of the Social Justice Committee. The Apna Dal leader Anupriya Patel, who is a minister in the Narendra Modi government, has accused the BJP state unit of neglecting her party.
The Apna Dal had given an ultimatum to the BJP to sort out its grievances by February20, failing which the party would look for alternatives.
Insiders claim Patel had met with Priyanka on Thursday to discuss possibilities of an alliance with the Congress, and the Apna Dal will take the final decision by the end of this month. Relations between the Apna Dal and the BJP turned sour over a function where the BJP had invited Central minister Ashwini Chaubey, but had ignored Patel.
Before the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP used to invite Apna Dal for all such programmes. Apna Dal leaders allege that in Mirzapur region—the home turf of the party—BJP leaders who had participated in functions organised by their ally had received expulsion threats from the saffron party.
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Despite many complaints over the issue, the BJP state unit had failed to rectify the situation.
Rajbhar is in touch with the Samajwadi Party.
Rajbhar had met BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday. It is learnt that the BJP conceded most of the demands of Rajbhar, but the final decision about the distribution of Lok Sabha seats and OBC reservation will be taken on February 26. Rajbhar had also given an ultimatum to the BJP of February 24 to decide on his demands.
