Seat deal declaration likely on Mayawati’s birthday

LUCKNOW: In what spells a challenge for BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, BSP and SP have decided to contest the 2019 polls together in Uttar Pradesh and are likely to formally announce a seat-sharing pact without Congress.The two parties have decided to contest an equal number of seats, possibly 37 each of the 80 seats, in the politically pivotal state. The two have decided not to field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, constituencies of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, respectively. They are also ready to set aside seats for Jat leader Ajit Singh’s RLD, while efforts are also on to rope in OBC outfits like Nishad Party and Krishna Patel faction of Apna Dal to forge a larger social combination to take on the dominant BJP.Sources familiar with negotiations said that while SP is insisting on parity, it is not averse to conceding a couple of seats more to BSP to ensure a smooth partnership with Mayawati , who revels in bargaining hard.There are indications the formal announcement of the seat-sharing pact between SP and BSP for the Lok Sabha polls may come on Mayawati’s birthday on January 15 which happens to be a big day in BSP’s political calendar. As it happens, that also happens to be the birthday of Dimple Yadav, wife of SP boss Akhilesh Yadav , and both parties seem to feel that joint public celebrations may provide a perfect setting for the pact between the two parties.Sources said that on January 15, Akhilesh is likely to call on Mayawati at her house in Lucknow to greet her. There is also a likelihood of the two leaders addressing the media jointly. However, there was no confirmation of speculation about the announcement being made at a rally BSP could organise to fete their leader.Mayawati and Akhilesh sealed the understanding at a marathon meeting held at the BSP chief’s residence on New Delhi’s Rakabganj Road.The understanding, though expected, will stiffen the task BJP faces in seeking to retain the bulk of the 73 seats it won in UP five years ago — an achievement which was crucial for Modi’s anointment as PM.