LUCKNOW, JAN 29: Despite being coalition partners in the Ram Prakash Gupta Government in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP and the Loktantrik Congress Party will contest against each other in the by-polls to eight Assembly seats scheduled for February 17.Meanwhile, pressure is also being mounted on the BJP to field its own candidate for the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat, vacated earlier for the Loktantrik Congress Party.The BJP leadership is in no mood to give in to the demands of the allies, which it feels are becoming more vociferous on the issues of governance and the distribution of tickets.``This is nothing but blackmail on the part of LCP. We had already clarified to them that we would leave them the Lok Sabha seat and would consider giving them one or two of the eight Assembly seats, but they want a larger share despite the fact that ours is a bigger organisation and our stakes too are high,'' said state BJP chief Om Prakash Gupta.Senior party leaders also met in the state capital on Thursday to discuss thefallout of the LCP decision to field its candidates in all the eight seats.They agreed that it would damage the prospects of party candidates, but decided not to give in to the LCP's demand.The LCP is standing by its demand for two reasons. One, it had always demanded a lion's share in any ``booty'', including the elections. Secondly, LCP chief Naresh Agarwal wants to convey the message that he was unhappy with the BJP leaders who sidelined him while achieving a breakthrough in the power strike.The credit for ending the impasse was given to Lalji Tandon because the striking leaders refused to talk to Naresh, following his adamant posture. Tandon, however, agreed to some of their demands, leading to withdrawal of the strike.Incensed with the state BJP chief's remarks that the party would not bow to the LCP's pressure tactics, the leaders have become more adamant in not withdrawing the candidates.
