For the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has almost finalised its seat-sharing arrangement with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), a report said .
As per highly-placed sources, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav reportedly agreed to give 36 seats to Jayant Chaudhary’s RLD at their meeting on Tuesday evening in Lucknow, reported news agency IANS.
On six of these seats, the candidates will be from the Samajwadi Party, but they will be contesting under the RLD symbol.
“The arrangement works well because the cadres of both parties feel a sense of involvement with the candidate,” explained an SP leader.
This may be recalled that a similar arrangement had been made in Kairana in the 2018 Lok Sabha by-elections, when Tabassum Hasan of the Samajwadi Party contested on an RLD ticket.
In western Uttar Pradesh, political experts say the RLD commands a much stronger position, especially after Jayant Chaudhary’s participation in the farmers’ agitation.
During the meeting with no aides present, the two leaders discussed the political situation in the western part of the state after the Centre decided to repeal farm laws.
Despite the fact that the RLD released its manifesto last month, there was also a discussion about a common minimum programme.
In the alliance with the Samajwadi Party, parties can put out their own manifestos for the Assembly polls, but a common minimum programme will be developed if the government is constituted.
“In any case, all parties that are in alliance with the SP have their focus on weak, deprived sections of society and farmers and youth. The agenda of all parties is almost the same,” the SP leader said.
It is possible, however, that the alliance will not be announced officially. “What announcement is needed now? We have already been in alliance with the SP since the 2019 elections and it is simply seat-sharing that is to be announced,” said RLD spokesman Rohit Agarwal.
There are chances that Jayant Chaudhary and Akhilesh Yadav will hold a joint rally in western Uttar Pradesh, though the date and time have not been decided.
Following the meeting, the two leaders tweeted their photographs.
Akhilesh wrote, “Shri Jayant Chaudhary ke saath, badlav ki ore (Heading for a change along with Jayant Chaudhary)”, while the RLD chief tweeted: “badte kadam” (moving forward).
In both tweets, it was amply conveyed that the deal had been sealed.
Jayant and Akhilesh share a camaraderie that is uncommon among politicians today, according to sources. Recent times have seen the two on the same page on key political issues, and the alliance is likely to gain considerable ground in western Uttar Pradesh.
