The long-awaited announcement regarding alliance between the Congress and Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal now hinges on his inclusion.
The long-awaited announcement regarding alliance between the Congress and Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) now hinges on his inclusion in the Union cabinet.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh and Mohan Prakash, chairman of the party’s screening committee for the assembly elections, have completed their discussions with Ajit Singh for the seat sharing arrangement. Though party leaders have been tight-lipped on the specifics of the numbers, they claim that issues have been settled between the two parties.
The RLD has five MPs in the Lok Sabha and one of Ajit Singh’s pre-conditions for entering into an alliance with the Congress is a berth for himself in the union cabinet, and if possible another minister of state rank position. The discussions began because there was an ‘in principle’ agreement on this issue.
However, there are practical difficulties in implementing this condition as there are two just days for the winter session of parliament to begin. “Ordinarily, there is no bar on the induction or exclusion of any minister during the session, but this is done rarely,” Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said.
Prime minister Manmohan Singh returns on Sunday night from the Asean summit, and this leaves a very small window for Ajit Singh’s induction before the session begins on November 22.
Leaders from both the parties are not willing to speculate on the fate of the alliance in the event of the ministerial berth not being granted to Ajit Singh. The elections in Uttar Pradesh are due in mid-2012.
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