LUCKNOW: Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Choudhary on Sunday said the BJP’s alleged “apathy” towards the protesting farmers would harm it in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. He said that fabricated issues like “love jihad” and “cow terror” will not work as only development issues will win in the elections. With the focus now shifting to the electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh in 2022 after the West Bengal elections held earlier this year, Chowdhury, the newly-appointed Rashtriya Lok Dal president, said his party was trying to polarize the Hindi heartland state in the race for the assembly polls. Will not let the campaign fail.
In an interview Jayant Chaudhary, who took over as RLD chief after his father Chaudhary Ajit Singh’s demise last month, said his party and the Samajwadi Party have a good rapport and a strong working relationship. He said details need to be worked out for a formal alliance for the polls.
Asked if a ”Mahagathbandhan” or a grand alliance is needed in UP to take on the BJP and whether the BSP and the Congress would be part of such an alliance, Chaudhary said, for him, issues come first and an understanding of those needs to be built between all alliance partners.
“Who can be accommodated depends on who is honestly open to working together on the common framework,” the 42-year-old leader said.
On whether the Congress would play a significant role in the assembly polls despite its poor showing in the panchayat elections, Chaudhary said he would not like to comment on the Congress” plans and chances.
Asked about the speculation over UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s political future as CM and reports about Cabinet reshuffle in the state, Chaudhary said the BJP is just trying to divert attention and create an illusion of dialogue to manage the disgruntled elements in the party.
