BJP offers RS by-poll seat, CM rushes to meet Advani

Going by the BJP-BSP strength in the House, which they still claim is ‘‘an unbroken 210’’, they hope to scrape through in 5 seats. The BSP has put up candidates on three of them — Bir Singh, Gandhi Azad and Ashim Singh.

The problem arose with the RS by-election seat which was traditionally held by the BJP. Given the open threat from the dissident camp, the BJP is not staking claim to it. And the BSP is shying away from nominating its own candidate since it will test the government’s claim of majority in the Assembly.

Though Mayawati is holding on to her chair till November 18 when the elections to the UP Rajya Sabha seat will take place, she has also been dropping broad hints to party-workers to prepare for any eventuality, including dissolution of the House and early Assembly elections.

Sources said the election to the Rajya Sabha seats will decide the future of the UP Assembly in more ways than one. ‘‘Now that Rajnath Singh (who is being credited for initiating the rebel crisis threatening her government) has been nominated, he will ensure that the rebels back off from their unrealistic demands to ensure his smooth entry into Rajya Sabha,’’ the aide said.