RLD to be part of ‘united Opposition’ against BJP

Lucknow: The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) will now be a part of the campaign to unite the Opposition at the national level. The party is all set to assert its political identity that has been decimated in the recent Assembly elections, where the party could win only one seat.

Chaudhary Ajit Singh, who has elevated his son Jayant Chaudhary to the post of vice-president in the party, will now play an advisory role, while Jayant Chaudhary will play a more proactive role.

According to party sources, the RLD will first participate in the “Sanjhi Virasat Bachao Sammelan” being organised by Sharad Yadav in Delhi. Intellectuals, political leaders, farmers, dalits and youth will participate in the programme that is being seen as a warm-up exercise to a larger political unity.

The RLD will also join the August 27 rally being organised by Lalu Prasad Yadav in Patna. RLD state president Masood Ahmad said, “We are all set to play an active role in the opposition and will continue our fight for farmers and the youth who are facing increasing unemployment.”

The RLD is keen to be a part of Opposition unity that includes Lalu Prasad Yadav, Sharad Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav and the Congress.

The party is not too inclined towards the Samajwadi Party led by Mr Akhilesh Yadav.

A senior RLD leader said, “More than us, I think it is Akhilesh Yadav who is not interested in taking us on board. He probably is confident of returning to power on his own and feels he is capable of challenging the BJP single handedly. However, we feel that a coalition or alliance would be better equipped to challenge the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.”

The party’s mood is also upbeat following the elevation of Mr Jayant Chaudhary to the post of vice-president. Mr Jayant Chaudhary, last month, had proved his mettle when he led a crowd of over 10,000 farmers to gherao the UP Vidhan Sabha.

This was one of the biggest RLD show in recent years and the young leader led from the front, braving water cannons and police action along with his supporters. The RLD, according to sources, also plans to braodbase its organisation instead of just concentrating on western UP.

“The problems of thefarmers are similar whether it is western or eastern or central UP. The BJP has perpetuated the biggest fraud on the farmers with the loan waiver scheme.  At the ground level farmers continue to be mired in despair,” said Anil Dubey, RLD spokesman in Lucknow.