The mood in the Rashtriya Lok Dal is upbeat after Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesman Rakesh Tikait followed the former Samajwadi Party leaders, Amar Singh and Jaya Prada, into the party. Contesting in Amroha, Mr. Tikait is expected to benefit from the support his father, the late Mahender Singh Tikait, enjoyed among farmers of western U.P.
“The RLD is sure to win all eight seats, as party supremo Ajit Singh is an undisputed leader of the farmers, and the presence of Mr. Rakesh Tikait, Mr. Amar Singh, contesting from Fatehpur Sikri, and Ms. Jaya Prada, from Bijnore, will add to the public appeal for the party,” senior leader Yashbir Singh said here on Wednesday.
Mr. Ajit Singh is seeking another term from Baghpat and his son Jayant Choudhary, from Mathura. The party, which is contesting in alliance with the Congress, hopes to woo Dalit and Muslim voters in Bulandshahr by putting up a new face — Anju Muskan, a Dalit married to a Muslim.
