RLD tries to inch closer to SP, BSP

In an attempt to end its political isolation in Uttar Pradesh, the Rashtriya Lok Dal is reaching out to the Samajwadi Party as well as the Bahujan Samaj Party in the hope of trying up an alliance with either of the parties.

The RLD, which has eight members in the UP Assembly, is hopeful that the upcoming Vidhan Parishad elections will bring it closer to either SP or BSP.

State RLD president Munna Singh Chauhan admitted that his party was waiting for a call from “secular” parties and added that RLD president Chaudhary Ajit Singh will take the final decision about supporting a party in the legislative council elections.

The RLD, in the past, has also shown its keenness to ally with the BSP but BSP president Mayawati has firmly turned down the proposal. The BSP is confident of getting Jatav and Muslim support in western UP since Muslims are reportedly upset with the Samajwadi Party.

The RLD’s relations with the JD(U) have already turned sour and there has been no message for the RLD from the Congress either.

Sources in the RLD confirmed that the party is also not averse to a tieup with the Samajwadi Party even though the leaders of the two parties have major ego issues with each other.

While Mr Mulayam Singh claims to be the political heir of the late Chaudhary Charan Singh, Mr Ajit Singh, being his son, claims the legacy of his father. The two leaders have shared an uncomfortable relationship since the Janata Dal days and do not see eye-to-eye.

However, political compulsions are making both do some rethinking about their relationship.

A party functionary in the Samajwadi Party said that Mr Mulayam Yadav was aware that their Muslim vote base had been eroded in western UP after the Muzaffarnagar riots.

“We can make up for the loss by winning over jats. The Muzaffarnagar panel did not indict the jat leaders and that can work in our favour. A section in the party wants an alliance with RLD since that would help us make inroads in the jat vote base,” he said.

Sources said that there was a possibility of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mr Ajit Singh having a secret meeting in Delhi soon.

Mr Ajit Singh is keen to establish his son Jayant Chaudhary’s political career and these Assembly elections, therefore, are crucial for his party’s survival.

“This time, both the SP and the RLD are driven by their own political compulsions which could help in breaking the ice and making the two parties come closer,” said a political analyst.