UP bypoll fallout: BJP withdraws two candidates for Rajya Sabha elections

Rajya Sabha poll leaves the possibility of horse trading and defections

As a fallout of the humiliating defeat in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur bypolls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday withdrew two candidates in fray for the Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, BJP had fielded 11 candidates for the 10 Rajya Sabha seats, although going by its numbers in Vidhan Sabha, it could elect only 8. However, the party had placed its bet on the split in the opposition votes to see at least one of its additional candidates sail through, while the remaining two were fielded by BJP to put pressure on the two Samajwadi Party and