Even as BJP leaders debate over forging an electoral alliance with Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for the next Lok Sabha elections, it seems that the Jat leader is in no hurry. Singh, known for his hard bargaining skills, is just watching who offers him the best deal — the BJP or the Samajwadi Party-Congress combine.

“We are keeping all our options open. We are in touch with both the BJP and the Congress-SP alliance. Maybe, next week we will decide whether to ally with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance or with the Congress-led UPA,” a RLD leader said. At the same time, he said any tie-ups with the NDA would happen only if things “do not work out” with the UPA.

SP sources, meanwhile, said that they would consider a tie-up with the RLD, only after concluding their seat-sharing talks with the Congress.

“Before a final decision is reached between the two parties (SP and Congress), talking to Ajit Singh may not be in our interest because the Congress may ask us to accommodate RLD from our own quota of seats,” an SP leader said. The RLD has been informally asking for eight Lok Sabha seats and is not keen to settle for less than five.

Despite being ditched by Ajit Singh during the last Assembly elections in May 2007, the SP remains open to an alliance with the RLD.

The SP believes such an arrangement will prevent the division of Muslim votes in western UP districts like Baghpat, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur.

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