Poised to tie up with RLD, BJP eyes Jat base consolidation, West UP booster in LS polls

BJP sources said that either Chaudhary — who is a Rajya Sabha MP and the grandson of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh — or his wife Charu Singh is likely to contest from Baghpat. The seat was once considered a Chaudhary family bastion, but the BJP has been winning it since 2014. It is currently represented by the BJP’s Satya Pal Singh. Sources also indicated that the RLD might also be fielding a candidate from Bijnor.

Alongside these seats as part of the alliance pact with the BJP,

The RLD could also get one Rajya Sabha seat, sources said, adding that former Union agriculture minister Sompal Shastri is likely to be considered for it. The BJP is also looking to support the RLD with an MLC seat in the UP Assembly, sources said.

A senior BJP leader said the alliance would be announced soon.

“With Prime Minister Narendra Modi setting the target at 400 plus for the NDA, we will join hands with smaller parties in the different parts of the country,” said a senior party leader.

“The doors of the BJP are open for all its former partners,” said the leader.

As per BJP leaders, an alliance with the RLD could brighten its chances in West UP. Despite the boost the party got in the wake of the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the ground survey conducted by the party placed it behind in seats like Bijnor, Amroha, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Fatehpur Sikri and Hathras.

“There were indications that the party would face a tough battle in these constituencies. The Jat leaders in the BJP organisation and government who were expected to win over the community appeared to have failed or have not succeeded to ensure the seats for the party,” said a BJP leader from UP.

The Jat community has significant influence in a dozen Lok Sabha and around 40 Assembly seats in West UP. They are estimated to make up between 10 and 15 per cent of the population in some 15 districts, but are socially dominant, vocal, and have the capacity to build a political atmosphere.

The BJP had earlier rewarded prominent Jat leaders from the region to consolidate the community’s votes. While Sanjeev Balyan was made a minister of state, Bhupendra Chaudhary was made the UP BJP state president.

The BJP’s move on Friday to announce the prestigious Bharat Ratna for late Charan Singh indicated the symbolic value attached to it. Reacting to this announcement, Jayant gave enough hints of the impending alliance with the BJP. “Dil jeet liya (you have won my heart)”, he posted on X.

In Parliament on Saturday, Jayant praised the Modi government for conferring the Bharat Ratna on Charan Singh. The Opposition members raised objections, asking under which rule he had been allowed to speak on the issue.

Reacting to the Opposition’s stance on the floor of the Upper House, Jayant said: “It was strange that they objected to me placing the emotions of the millions of farmers in this country. It seems they were not able to digest it. Why are they questioning the timing? Does it mean that no one should be conferred with Bharat Ratna in election year?”

He added: “How does the political party in power pick people to be honoured? They will look for political gains and see issues that are linked to people’s sentiments. If a government has sensed the sentiments of the people and honoured a leader, what’s wrong in it?”

Asked about the “deal” with the BJP, Jayant said: “It is not a deal, it is about trust.”

During the campaigning of the 2022 UP polls, when the RLD was the SP, Jayant was asked about shifting alliances. He replied: “Mein koi chavanni nahi palatne keliye ( I am not a coin that would flip)”.

Asked about this statement on Saturday, he said: “In the heat of elections, you make several statements… They (opposition leaders) also should recollect what all statements they had made during the campaign.”