Lucknow. The Samajwadi Party (SP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) have almost finalized the seat sharing for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. According to sources, in a meeting with RLD President Jayant Chaudhary in Lucknow on Tuesday evening, SP President Akhilesh Yadav has agreed to give 36 seats to RLD.
Although the candidates for six of these seats will be from the Samajwadi Party, but he will contest the election on the symbol of RLD.
A similar scenario was seen in the 2018 Lok Sabha by-election in Kairana, when Tabassum Hassan of the Samajwadi Party contested on the RLD ticket.
An SP leader explained, “This strategy will work well in the elections as the workers of both the parties feel connected with the candidates.”
Political experts claim that the RLD is in a much better position in western Uttar Pradesh, especially after the farmers’ agitation in which Jayant Choudhary took an active part.
In the meeting without any aide, the two leaders also discussed the political situation in the western part of the state following the Centre’s decision to repeal agricultural laws.
There were talks about a common minimum programme, although the RLD has released its manifesto last month.
It was decided that the parties in alliance with the Samajwadi Party could release their manifesto for the assembly elections, a common minimum program would be drafted when it comes to government formation.
The SP leader said, “In any case, the focus of all the parties in alliance with the SP is on the weaker, deprived sections of the society and farmers and youth. The agenda of all the parties is almost the same.”
However, a formal announcement of the alliance could not be made.
RLD spokesperson Rohit Agarwal said, “What announcement is needed now? We are in alliance with SP since 2019 elections and now only seat sharing is to be announced.”
Akhilesh Yadav and Jayant Choudhary are likely to hold a joint rally in western Uttar Pradesh, the date and time of which is yet to be finalised.
After the meeting, both the leaders tweeted their pictures.
Akhilesh wrote, “With Mr. Jayant Choudhary, towards change, while the RLD chief replied with ‘Saath Saath Chalenge’ and ‘Bade Kadam’.”
The two tweets sufficed that the deal has been sealed.
According to sources, there is a camaraderie between Akhilesh and Jayant which is not found among politicians these days. The two have been on the same page on major political issues in recent times and the alliance is likely to make substantial gains in western Uttar Pradesh.
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