Rashtriya Lok Dal’s poster-boy and grandson of former Prime Minister Choudhari Charan Singh, parliamentarian Jayant Choudhari, is all set to join the race to woo the youth. With a membership drive on cards, he is planning to tour the districts of eastern UP and expand the political base of the party.

Jayant, who made his first visit to Lucknow after his election to the Lok Sabha from Mathura on Monday, led the delegation of his party parliamentarians and legislators to submit a memorandum to Governor B L Joshi. The memorandum expresses the party’s demand for the cancellation of the notification meant for the acquisition of land in 850 revenue villages of Western UP’s four districts — Agra, Mathura, Mahamaya Nagar and Aligarh — for the expansion of the Yamuna Expressway Development Authority. According to him, this is going to be the biggest land acquisition drive on part of any development authority in the country. The lands, he pleaded, are fit for agriculture and are part of the “potato zone”.

In the memorandum, the RLD has sought information regarding the Masterplan, if any, prepared by the Authority for the notified area. The party is also worried about the plans for those affected by the acquisition.

Born in 1978, Jayant completed his post graduation from the London School of Economics. With a vision for his party, he plans to take his its activities beyond the boundaries of Jatland. “I do not want to be called a Jat leader. I feel bad,” he said in reply to a question regarding his identity in UP politics. “We are known as progressive leaders among our supporters.”

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