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Ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the tussle within the NDA over seat allocation is now surfacing openly. Azamgarh’s Atrauli assembly seat has become the alliance’s most talked-about seat. While Subhaspa President Om Prakash Rajbhar has announced that his younger son, Arun Rajbhar, will contest the Atrauli seat, Nishad Party National President and Cabinet Minister Dr. Sanjay Nishad has strongly objected, stating that Rajbhar is violating the alliance’s decorum and that allies should not publicly stake claims on other parties’ seats.

The increasing rhetoric between Rajbhar and Nishad has exacerbated the BJP’s difficulties. Political experts believe that if the dispute is not resolved in time, the Samajwadi Party will try to take advantage of it.

Why did Atrauli seat become a political battleground?

Azamgarh’s Atrauli assembly seat is considered a key political constituency in Purvanchal. Here, Rajbhar, Nishad, Yadav, Dalit, and Muslim voters influence the election results. Om Prakash Rajbhar is claiming a strong claim for his son based on this social equation.

He says that the Rajbhar community has a significant presence in this area, and if the Subhaspa wins the seat, the alliance’s chances of victory will be further strengthened. In the 2022 assembly elections, the Atrauli seat went to the Nishad Party under the BJP alliance.

The Nishad Party candidate lost the election, but the contest was by a margin of approximately 17,000 votes. Based on this, the Nishad Party claims that its organizational strength and booth-level preparation can ensure victory this time. Therefore, the party appears unwilling to relinquish this seat.

Sanjay Nishad said – the decorum of the alliance should be followed.

Following Rajbhar’s statement, Nishad Party chief Dr. Sanjay Nishad publicly expressed his displeasure. He stated that all parties in the alliance must adhere to decorum and that it is inappropriate to publicly claim seats belonging to another ally. He stated that the seat allocation will be decided by the alliance’s top leadership, and therefore, allies should maintain discipline.

The biggest challenge before the BJP

The Atrauli dispute isn’t just a matter of one seat for the BJP, but is becoming a test of maintaining coordination within the entire NDA. The BJP will have to work out a seat-sharing arrangement between the Subhaspa, Nishad Party, Apna Dal (S), and other allies that doesn’t breed discontent within any party.

Political analysts believe that if the allies continue to make claims against each other in this manner on public platforms, it will create confusion among the workers and this may have a direct impact on the election preparations.

Claims may increase on many seats in Purvanchal

Atrauli isn’t the only seat. In several assembly seats in Purvanchal, the Subhaspa, Nishad Party, and other allies may demand tickets based on their social bases. Discussions are also swirling about contests in several seats in districts like Mau, Ghazipur, Ballia, Jaunpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Deoria, and Kushinagar.

Many influential local leaders and powerful figures continue to influence Purvanchal politics. If disagreements within the alliance over seat allocation escalate, several regional leaders may also seek to consolidate their political base. This is likely to make the contests on many seats even more interesting.

SP may get a political opportunity

The Samajwadi Party is already working to strengthen its support base in Purvanchal. If the dispute over seat allocation between NDA allies escalates, the SP could make it a major election issue and take it to voters. Political analysts believe that the growing tension within the alliance could become an opportunity for the opposition.

The political battle that has erupted over the Atrauli seat is no longer confined to just one assembly constituency. It is being seen as a signal of the entire NDA’s seat-sharing arrangements in the coming days. The BJP’s biggest challenge will be to balance the ambitions and political claims of its allies and keep the alliance united. If this balance is disturbed, the opposition will not hesitate to make it an election issue.