In a major development ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Nishad Party leader and current Gorakhpur MP Praveen Nishad has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In another development and jolt to the hopes of Mahagathbandhan, Nishad Party has announced announces an alliance with the BJP in Uttar Pradesh after breaking off its tie-up with SP-BSP-RLD.

Delhi: Nishad Party leader and Gorakhpur (UP) MP Praveen Nishad joins Bharatiya Janata Party. Nishad Party to support BJP in Uttar Pradesh in upcoming Lok Sabha elections. pic.twitter.com/Aqk5X2ZeAu — ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019

Praveen Nishad, son of the party supremo had won the UP by-election from Gorakhpur with an SP ticket. The Gorakhpur seat was initially held by the current UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Addressing the press conference after the announcement of the alliance with BJP at Delhi, Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad said “We will make sure Narendra Modi is voted as Prime Minister again.” This shows the increasing force of the Bhartiya Janta Party and PM Modi on the grounds of UP in the upcoming election battle.

The feud between Nishad Party and the Akhilesh-led SP came to the fore when the party members were not given credits on posters. The Nishad Party chief had said “Akhilesh Yadav had said he’ll make announcement on seats for our party. But they didn’t put our name on poster/letter or anything. My party workers, authorities, core committee were upset.” The statement was followed by Sanjay Nishad meeting the UP CM to decide the candidature. There are rumours that the BJP might provide the Nishad Party a seat from Gorakhpur. The party leader expressed his discontentment over not providing a respectable seat by the aliiance leaders.

Praveen Nishad, on the other hand has proven himself previously by defeating the ruling assembly party on the seat of Gorakhpur, however with the ticket from Samajwadi Party in 2018. The balance that was to be established by the Mahagathbandhan seems to lose its balance with Nishad party out of the picture of the “grand alliance”.

In the Gorakhpur district among the 19.5 lakh voters, about 3.5 lakhs are voters from the Nishad community. This shows the clear dominance of the community and therefore and extra advantage to BJP. Adityanath has been a major contestant and had a strong hold on Gorakhpur district.

The joining of the Nishad Party heavyweight has made it difficult for the grand alliance participants to win in UP. This comes as a setback for the alliance and puts them in great worry ahead of Lok Sabha 2019.