Ajit Singh's meet with Mulayam Yadav sparks buzz about alliance

Ahead of the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh which are due next year, meetings between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chiefs have sparked a buzz of them forging an alliance.

The recent development comes after RLD chief Ajit Singh met SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav at his residence in Delhi, on Sunday.

The ruling SP is reportedly keen on a tie-up to woo Jat voters of western Uttar Pradesh in order to pose a counter to the BJP in the polls, reported Indian Express, quoting sources. 

Though it is being said that SP will withdraw a candidate for Rajya Sabha to accommodate Ajit, the RLD chief denied reports of the possibility of an alliance.

“There was no discussion on the possibility of an alliance. I have not even discussed the issue within the RLD organisation,” Singh told IE.

However, people familiar with the matter told Economic Times on condition of anonymity that the party is all set to send Ajit Singh to the Rajya Sabha,

MLC Ashu Malik who was present at the meeting said, "The top SP and RLD leaders met on Saturday night and Sunday. Both the leaders discussed farmers' issues," reported ET.