The RLD and the Samajwadi Party (SP), long-time allies and members of the troubled INDIA bloc, had agreed on a deal of their own.
Amid the challenges faced by the INDIA bloc in maintaining cohesion, reports have surfaced suggesting that the BJP has extended an offer to the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), known for its significant support among Jats and farmers in western Uttar Pradesh. The alleged offer includes five parliamentary seats and two ministerial positions in exchange for Jayant Chaudhary severing ties with Akhilesh Yadav”s Samajwadi Party.
Initially, the RLD and the Samajwadi Party had agreed upon a seven-seat arrangement for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, sources now indicate that the BJP is enticing the RLD with two Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha seats, alongside ministerial roles within Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath”s administration. Unverified reports suggest that the RLD is holding out for a more favorable deal, aiming for three additional Lok Sabha seats and a union ministerial position.
Furthermore, there are murmurs of the RLD advocating for a posthumous Bharat Ratna for former Prime Minister and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, the founding figure of the party. Jayant Chaudhary, currently serving as a Rajya Sabha MP, is the grandson of Charan Singh.
Despite the speculation, Samajwadi Party chief and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said, “Jayant Chaudhary is an educated person and he understands politics really well. I am hopeful that he will not let the fight for farmers weaken…”
RLD leader Rajiv Malik also dismissed these claims as baseless rumours, urging party members to focus on preparing for the general election.
Echoing this sentiment, Samajwadi Party General Secretary Shivpal Yadav denounced the BJP”s tactics, asserting Jayant Chaudhary”s commitment to the INDIA bloc and secular principles.
“BJP is doing work of creating confusion. He (Jayant Chaudhary) is not going anywhere… will remain with INDIA bloc and will help in defeating BJP. I know him… he is a secular person,” Shivpal Yadav said.
However, underlying tensions within the INDIA bloc persist, particularly regarding seat-sharing arrangements in Uttar Pradesh. This unease comes amid similar disputes between the Samajwadi Party and the Congress regarding seat allocations in the state.
The Samajwadi Party has agreed to give the RLD seven seats and 11 will go to the Congress. However, reports suggest that the RLD and Congress are unhappy with their share. The Congress wanted 22 seats (double the number offered) and the RLD one more.
With Uttar Pradesh holding 80 Lok Sabha seats, the highest in the country, the region”s political dynamics are crucial for any party or alliance aspiring to form the central government. Notably, the RLD”s stronghold lies within the Jat community, particularly in constituencies with a significant Jat population such as Muzaffarnagar, Kairana, and Baghpat.
Despite its historical significance and association with agrarian and Jat communities, the RLD”s electoral influence has waned in recent years, partly due to shifts in Jat voting patterns towards the BJP. This transition underscores the complexity of political allegiances within the region, where individual preferences and considerations play a pivotal role alongside broader community interests.
