UP Assembly Bypolls: Ready to contest two seats, says Nishad after talks with Adityanath

The NISHAD Party appointed coordinators and teams to start preparations on both Katehri and Manjhwa seats. Even as the party is adamant on contesting both, sources said the BJP is trying to convince the party to let their candidates contest on the BJP symbol.

A day after the BJP held internal discussions in New Delhi regarding the upcoming bypolls on 10 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, speculation that the party might allot only one seat for ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has upset another ally, the NISHAD Party, which is keen on contesting at least two seats – Katehri and Manjhwa.

On Monday, the party chief Sanjay Nishad met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow. “It has been a tradition that after their own meeting, the BJP meets alliance partners. There is no official statement yet. We are prepared to contest both the seats and are hopeful that the BJP will give the NISHAD Party its due share,” Sanjay Nishad told mediapersons on Monday.

“Talks are going on. CM Adityanath said the decision of the party leadership would be acceptable to all. We are confident of contesting Manjhwa and Katehri. Let a decision be made first,” said ex-MP Praveen Nishad.

The NISHAD Party appointed coordinators and teams to start preparations on both Katehri and Manjhwa seats. Even as the party is adamant on contesting both, sources said the BJP is trying to convince the party to let their candidates contest on the BJP symbol.

Of the 10 seats that will see bypolls, three were won by the BJP, 5 by the Samajwadi Party and one each by Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and NISHAD party. Sources said that while BJP is ready to leave Meerapur Assembly seat, which was won by the RLD in 2022 and has been vacated after the RLD leader became an MP on Rashtriya Lok Dal ticket in the recent Lok Sabha election. However, Manjhwa Assembly seat, which was won by NISHAD party leader Vinod Bind on NISHAD Party symbol in 2022, who is now BJP MP from Bhadohi.

Also Read | As BJP shifts focus to UP Assembly bypolls, why ally NISHAD Party is on edge

Citing a “good share” of the vote bank in Manjhwa and Katehri Assembly seat of Ambedkarnagar, the NISHAD Party has been seeking to contest both in bypolls, claiming that this would help BJP in seats such as Milkipur as well. To prove its point, even as the BJP was holding discussions on seat-sharing in Delhi on Sunday evening, the NISHAD party appointed over 10 coordinators on each of these two seats.

However, sources said that if not two, the party is adamant on fighting at least Manjhwa seat on its symbol as it was represented by its MLA Vinod Kumar Bind in 2022 but is now vacant as Bind is now Bhadohi MP on BJP symbol.

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“To garner support, workers need a symbol. We deserve Manjhwa,” said another NISHAD Party leader.

The NISHAD Party is also eyeing to contest the Katehri Assembly seat, which was won by the SP’s Lalji Verma, citing the significant number of NISHAD voters. The SP has declared Lalji Verma’s wife Shobhawati Verma as its candidate on the seat.

Notably, Katehri, along with Milkipur, is being directly monitored by CM Adityanath and the BJP is confident of victory on the seat. Thus, sources pointed out that the NISHAD party may only be left with the option to seek Manjhwa seat to contest.

Maulshree Seth

Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development. Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity. Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More

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