SP wanted to field own candidates with RLD symbol in some seats.
RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary has left Samajwadi Party’s “bicycle” to hold the BJP’s “lotus” for RLD’s better political future.
As Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh was not happy with opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc’s Samajwadi Party over the latter’s demand to field SP leader on RLD’s traditional seat of Muzaffarnagar and some other seats, its chief Jayant Chaudhary chose the BJP for brighter prospects of his party.
A former RLD Jat leader, who is now in BJP, reportedly played a vital role in making up Jayant Chaudhary’s mind to shake hands with the saffron party. Former UP chief minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had announced on X regarding the alliance with RLD allocating seven seats to the latter.
Despite allocation of seven tickets to RLD, the SP was apparently pressuring RLD to field SP leaders on Muzaffarnagar (RLD’s traditional constituency) and a few other of the seven seats allotted to RLD. RLD was not happy with SP’s pressure tactics.
During BJP’s talks with RLD about a week ago, an RLD source told The Sunday Guardian, “As the alliance gives upper hand to SP, there are whispers among RLD leaders that the party should not function under pressure of some other party and should choose to break the alliance rather. Though SP gave RLD 7 seats, SP is planning to field its three leaders on RLD’s symbol out of the total seven allocated seats. Further, Jats are also not willing to vote for SP leaders which would defeat the purpose of an alliance with the SP.”
Another source said, “Akhilesh is not as able to negotiate deals the way as his father used to do. Now the RLD may get one Rajya Sabha seat and one berth in the Union Cabinet, two ministries in Uttar Pradesh government and two Lok Sabha seats of Bagpat and Bijnor.”
Trilok Tyagi, RLD’s national general secretary told The Sunday Guardian: “Actually they had given seven seats but they wanted to field their own candidates on three seats, which Jayant Chaudhary did not like. Then I talked to Jayant Chaudhary and he said if such a thing happens, our party leaders will get dissatisfied. When such a thing was in process, the BJP got active and they started talking to Jayant Chaudhary.”
Asked if Akhilesh Yadav or Congress tried to reach out to Jayant Chaudhary to settle the matter, Trilok Tyagi said, “There were talks going on between Congress and SP during that (RLD’s dissatisfaction) and their talks were not having any conclusive outcome. In the meantime, BJP got success in alliance with RLD. It is also important to mention that there is no animosity between Akhilesh Yadav and Jayant Chaudhary. Before the alliance with BJP, both the leaders (Jayant and Akhilesh) were comfortable when the 7 seats were allotted to RLD and it was said that both the parties will go along together but it was the Muzaffarnagar seat (which Jayant’s father Ajit Singh had contested) became the bone of contention as Jayant Chaudhary wanted an RLD candidate to contest from his father’s seat.”
A political analyst said, “In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, seven out of 16 seats BJP lost in Uttar Pradesh were from Western UP. It lost all six seats in the Moradabad division. In such circumstances, BJP was already focusing on these seats. RLD getting along with them could ensure a complete sweep in the state by the BJP.
The saffron camp can now even win 75 seats which would be the breaking of all the past records they have set themselves. SP seems strong on only two seats that is Rampur and Mianpuri and Congress may be able to win Amethi and Rae Bareli only if they work hard for it.”