Gathbandhan tussle in Uttar Pradesh: RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary to meet Akhilesh Yadav to discuss seat-sharing

It appears that there is a tussle in Uttar Pradesh Gathbandhan over the seat-sharing within four days of the announcement of the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party coalition. 

RLD leader Ajeet Singh son Jayant Chaudhary will be meeting Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday in Lucknow for a discussion on seat distribution. 

The SP and BSP had decided to contest 38 seats each in the 80-seat state, leaving 2 seats for other allies and 2 seats uncontested (Amethi and Rae Bareli - held by Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi). 

The RLD, which is a part of their coalition had earlier asked for five seats but after the announcement of SP-BSP seats, the party now has said that it is willing to contest on four seats. The party wants to fight in Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Matura and Kairana. 

The RLD has said that it has already compromised for Hathras seat as it is in Mayawati's quota. 

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But Mayawati has made it clear now that she is not going to compromise for even one seat and has said to Akhilesh that it is his wish if he wants to share the seats from those allotted to him.

The SP and BSP had been almost wiped out in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, with the BJP winning 71 out of 80 seats with 42.6% vote-share. The Samajwadi Party won 5 seats with a 22.2% vote-share, the Congress won 2 seats with 7.5% vote-share and the BSP won no seats at all despite a 19.8% vote-share.

READ | Here's What The Samajwadi Party Said After Its Ally BSP Declared Mayawati As "India's To-be Prime Minister"

On Tuesday, BSP National spokesperson Sudhindra Bhadoria congratulated Mayawati on her birthday by putting posters saying, "Well wishes for India' would be Prime Minister Mayawati on her birthday on January 15" on social media. 

Samajwadi Party has responded to the posters reiterating that the next Prime Minister will come from Uttar Pradesh. "We would welcome a PM who comes from Uttar Pradesh," said Ghanshyam Tiwari, SP's national spokesperson.

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