Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) is likely to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Sources said details of the seat-sharing arrangement will be made public, when a poll alliance between the two parties is formally announced.

On Thursday, Singh said: “Our talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are moving in right direction but a lot has to be done.” He refused to disclose any information regarding his demand for seats in western Uttar Pradesh.  

Sources in the RLD said an announcement regarding Singh’s entry into the NDA camp will be made public after Diwali.

“Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has not only ditched the RLD leader but virtually forced him to embrace the NDA,” a source said.

“The political situation in western Uttar Pradesh underwent a complete change after Mayawati decided to field Muslim candidates from key constituencies. Hence, RLD preferred an alliance with the NDA,” said an RLD leader. He added the party will gain by entering into an alliance with the BJP.

“The Congress would not have accepted our demand to field our candidates in major western UP parliamentary constituencies like Aligarh, Mathura, Kairana, Muzaffar Nagar, Meerut, Bulandshar, Baghpat and Bijnore,” another source cited the reason behind Singh’s choice of NDA.

RLD’s state president Ram Asray Verma said talks regarding alliance are being discussed at the top level in New Delhi. “I have requested our leaders to demand seats in Bundelkhand, central and eastern UP. The party should contest at least one seat in these three regions,” he said.

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