'BJP Knows It Will Lose…': SP Leader Alleges 'Conspiracy' To Undermine CM Yogi Ahead Of Bypolls

CM Yogi has been give the responsibility of Milkipur and Katehari where the BJP knows it will lose, Awadhesh Prasad, claimed adding that the BJP did this to reduce the CM's stature. 

Amid speculations of strife in the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, SP leader Awadhesh Prasad has claimed that the saffron party is reducing the status of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and giving him the responsibility of the seats in the bypolls where the "BJP knows it will lose". 

The Ayodhya MP's remark comes ahead of the bypolls on 10 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh including Karhal in Mainpuri and Milkipur in Ayodhya.

Awadhesh Prasad also remarked that Yogi Adityanath has been given limited responsibility of only two of the 10 assembly seats where the bypolls will be held, according to a report in PTI. 

CM Yogi has been give the responsibility of Milkipur and Katehari where the BJP knows it will lose, the SP leader alleged adding that the BJP did this to reduce the CM's stature. 

The bypolls in UP have gained attention due to BJP's poorer-than-expected performance in the recently held Lok Sabha elections and amid buzz about internal discord within the state unit of the party.

"These are being done as part of a conspiracy by the Delhi people. We feel that the people of Delhi have something in mind. It appears they (BJP) have some plan against our Baba chief minister as they know that if the BJP loses the by-election, then the people of Delhi will get a chance to do something," Prasad said. 

Despite being the chief minister of the entire state, the 'Delhi people' have limited Yogi Adityanath only to the by-elections of Milkipur and Katehari assembly seats, he alleged. 

"The BJP have a conspiracy against the chief minister and know that the party will lose the Milkipur and Katehari assembly by-elections badly, that is why Adityanath has been given the responsibility of these seats," Prasad added.     

Prasad claimed that the BJP knows that the party would lose from Milkipur and Katehari seats, so the party has assigned the responsibility of both these places to CM Yogi. 

"The Milkipur by-election has been made Yogi versus Awadhesh Prasad. Awadhesh Prasad is not alone. The public is with him. People of all castes and communities are with him there. The BJP will lose badly," he added.

The bypolls will be held in Karhal, Milkipur, Katehari, Majhawan, Phupur, Kundarki, Khair, Merrapur, Ghaziabad and Sisamau. 

The seats fell vacant after nine MLAs including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were elected to Lok Sabha, while SP MLA from Sisamau MLA Irfan Solanki was disqualified after he was sentenced to jail in a criminal case.