Bypolls: SP’s turn to ditch Congress

Giving a severe jolt to the Congress, which was in favour of fielding joint candidates in both the constituencies to take on the ‘‘communal BJP-BSP coalition’’, the SP has announced its candidates for the crucial UP bypolls. Both the Congress and SP are now all set to go alone in Gauriganj and Haidergarh Assembly bypolls, scheduled for February 26.

Congress spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh said his party would soon announce its candidates for the two seats. He dubbed the SP as a ‘‘sleeping partner of the BJP-BSP coalition’’.

Gauriganj, which falls under Amethi parliamentary constituency of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, fell vacant following the death of MLA Noor Mohammed and Haidergarh following the resignation of former chief minister Rajnath Singh.

The Gauriganj byelection is going to be crucial because it is being considered as a trial of strength between Sonia Gandhi and Mayawati.