LUCKNOW: In a twist in UP’s political tale just months before Lok Sabha polls, there are strong indications that Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) is in talks with BJP for a pre-poll seat-sharing arrangement. The development, confirmed by key members of both camps, has taken place over the past few days despite SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s assurance to RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary to spare seven LS seats for him.
RLD has been a loyal partner of SP in the past few polls and a key member of the INDIA bloc. Jayant was even sent to RS in May 2022 from SP’s quota. However, sources say the RLD chief may go with BJP for ‘better compatibility’ and ‘higher conversion rate’.
Although sources said it was early to comment about outcome of the talks, they said if things go as planned, RLD might get five seats from NDA quota. Sources in RLD camp told TOI that if the party joins hands with BJP, it would be in a better position to save the status of being a recognised state party in UP as compared to an alliance with Samajwadi Party. Elaborating, they said that with RLD joining hands with BJP, the Jat community will have a clarity on which way to go and this will consolidate the position of the party’s candidates. Secondly, RLD will get non-Jat votes of BJP, having a better chance of winning the seats it gets in alliance, they added.
In BJP’s case, with RLD in NDA-fold, the party won’t have doubt about the inclination of Jat voters. The community has been inclined towards either BJP or RLD over the past few polls. Once both parties join hands, Jat voters would shift en bloc to NDA, giving BJP much-needed respite from being on tenterhooks about the strong west UP community’s inclination.
RLD has been a loyal partner of SP in the past few polls and a key member of the INDIA bloc. Jayant was even sent to RS in May 2022 from SP’s quota. However, sources say the RLD chief may go with BJP for ‘better compatibility’ and ‘higher conversion rate’.
Although sources said it was early to comment about outcome of the talks, they said if things go as planned, RLD might get five seats from NDA quota. Sources in RLD camp told TOI that if the party joins hands with BJP, it would be in a better position to save the status of being a recognised state party in UP as compared to an alliance with Samajwadi Party. Elaborating, they said that with RLD joining hands with BJP, the Jat community will have a clarity on which way to go and this will consolidate the position of the party’s candidates. Secondly, RLD will get non-Jat votes of BJP, having a better chance of winning the seats it gets in alliance, they added.
In BJP’s case, with RLD in NDA-fold, the party won’t have doubt about the inclination of Jat voters. The community has been inclined towards either BJP or RLD over the past few polls. Once both parties join hands, Jat voters would shift en bloc to NDA, giving BJP much-needed respite from being on tenterhooks about the strong west UP community’s inclination.