The BJP finds itself in a spot thanks to its inconvenient, but important ally — the Bahujan Samaj Party in UP.Two Assembly by-elections are due in UP from Haidergarh and Gauriganj. The BJP is keen on contesting both — Haidergarh, because it has been vacated by former chief minister Rajnath Singh following his election to the Rajya Sabha, and Gauriganj, because its candidate finished second after the Congress in the last elections.However, Mayawati is itching to square up with Congress ever since Priyanka Gandhi made an issue out of the demolition of a Dalit’s house in Amethi. Mayawati is keen on wresting the seat from the Congress citing the by-election as a test case of popularity. The CM’s candidate came a close third in the last polls. BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan said: ‘‘We have a right over both seats. If BSP accepts this, there would no quarrel.’’ Since the assembly has a sizeable presence of Rajputs, the BJP believes that the community, angered by the invocation of POTA against Raja Bhaiyya, may vote en bloc against the BSP.
