Similar to the unease expressed by RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha before he junked the NDA, the BJP’s UP ally Apna Dal (S) is echoing much the same sentiment.

During a key meeting at camp office of Apna Dal (S) at Mall Avenue in the city, Union Minister and MP Anupriya Patel alleged that the Yogi-led BJP government in the state wants backwards to fight among themselves in the name of reservation.

Patel also alleged that the state government is not getting Census done on the basis of caste. She also demanded that the reservation should be given based on the population of the caste.

Speaking to media on Monday after the key meeting, Anupriya Patel said, “We do not have any differences with the Central government, but we will not compromise with respect of our workers. We stand by the central government but also demand that our problems should be resolved.”

“The UP government is not ready for caste-based Census and thus wants backward to fight among themselves. We also demand that reservation should also be considered in contractual jobs as well. Even backwards should be posted at Tehsil and Police Stations in a respectable proportion,” she added.

Also present on the occasion, Apna Dal (S) president Ashish Patel said, “Small parties and allies are being ignored in the BJP government. Their demands are not being met. The upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha Elections can go anyway if the allies are not given due respect and importance. The BJP should not force anyone to become a ‘Vibheeshan’, especially at a time when SP-BSP alliance can pose a grave threat to the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.”

Earlier, the Apna Dal (S) had announced last month that its president Ashish Patel and Anupriya will not participate in any events led by the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh till their issues with the BJP are resolved.

Ashish, while addressing a press conference in Mirzapur, had said: “The BJP should learn from the losses in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh assembly elections. The SP-BSP alliance is a challenge for the NDA, whose allies in UP are upset. The leadership at the Centre must do something, or else the NDA would suffer in UP.” He also said that smaller parties were feeling ‘ignored’ by the BJP.

However, the BJP had dismissed reports of rift and termed it a "minor misunderstanding". BJP leader and Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey had said there was no "anger" or "ill will", adding there may have been some misunderstanding whose solution will be arrived at.