Ajit Singh’s party may snub SP-BSP coalition in UP over seat-sharing, indicates it may join Cong
Within four days of the 'gatbhandhan' being announced by the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh, the RLD, considered to the third wheel in the alliance, has already indicated it may walk out of the coalition. If a respectable seat-sharing formula cannot be agreed upon, the RLD said, it could consider joining the Congress instead.
The RLD has been lobbying for three Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, while the SP and BSP have set aside only two. The Congress, meanwhile, said communication channels remained open with the Ajit Singh-led party.
Last week, while announcing the alliance, SP and BSP said they would contest 38 seats each, while two seats were set aside for Congress and other allies. The RLD, however, was not present at the meeting. RLD leaders then reached out to Akhilesh Yadav after the announcement, but the latter has asked them to wait.
RLD sources said they asked for five seats after alliance talks had initiated. They also said two seats would be too insignificant, and that an extra seat or two could lead to a "healthy alliance". The two seats that are on offer are Mathura and Baghpat, while the RLD has demanded the Muzaffarnagar constituency also be added to their tally.
Meanwhile, a senior Congress leader said the party also expects to win more seats than what the SP-BSP alliance was willing to offer, and that they are willing to have like-minded parties on board. "It's a blessing in disguise for us," the leader said.
Sources also said BSP supremo Mayawati is possibly reluctant to the alliance with RLD. The latter's primary votebank comprises the Jats, who have been at loggerheads with the Dalits and Bahujans who form BSP's voter base.
Traditional Uttar Pradesh rivals SP and BSP joined hands last week, agreeing to a seat-sharing formula whereby they contest from 38 seats each.
Alliance Runs Into Trouble
- Traditional rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party formed a coalition in UP
- The two were to fight 38 seats each in the 80-member Assembly, leaving two for possible allies like Congress or RLD
- The RLD said it would demand a minimum of three seats.
- Failure to agree on the seat-sharing may send it into an alliance with the Congress, which said it is willing to have like-minded parties on board.
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