In what may appear to be a counterintuitive decision, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) led by Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary has decided against contesting the Assembly elections in Haryana where Jats, the party’s core vote base in western Uttar Pradesh, are the dominant community.
Instead, the party is contesting the coming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls and also has plans to enter the fray in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, where elections are likely to be held by the end of the year. Though the party is a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) both parties are going it alone in J&K.
“The RLD has an organisation in Jammu and Kashmir and has been preparing to contest the Assembly polls there. The RLD is contesting there without alliance and candidates have been declared as well,” said party general secretary Trilok Tyagi, who reviewed preparations and candidate selection in the Union Territory over the past week.
On why the party gave up Haryana — where it last contested an election in 2009, losing deposits in all seven seats where it put up candidates — a senior RLD leader said, “Earlier, discussions took place with the BJP for two Assembly seats in the state. But these talks did not materialise. So, we decided to help the BJP in the elections.”
An RLD insider said the party did not want to rock the boat over a few seats in a state where it does not stand much chance. Instead, the Jayant Chaudhary party was looking to negotiate a few constituencies in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and the 10 Assembly bypolls that have to be held in UP.
“The RLD is hopeful that the BJP will give us few seats in the Assembly polls in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and we will unitedly fight in the Uttar Pradesh bypolls. The BJP is the ruling party in Haryana and it is in a better position. The RLD has nothing to lose there (in Haryana) but if it contests separately, it will cause a division of Jat votes in some constituencies. That will not send a good message,” said an RLD leader.
The four J&K seats where the Jayant Chaudhary-led party has so far declared candidates are Ganderbal, Hazartbal, Baramulla, and Pattan. The party expects to field more candidates before the nominations close. Tyagi said the RLD would campaign on the issues of infrastructure development in rural areas, unemployment, farmers’ concerns, and statehood for J&K.
“Since Independence, villages, farmers, youths and women have been neglected in J&K. Injustice is happening with apple growers there. We want statehood for the J&K,” Tyagi said.
An RLD leader in J&K said the party had contested the Assembly elections in one seat in the past but not under its election symbol. “This is the first time that the RLD will contest using its official symbol (handpump). This will help the party expand in the state,” the leader added.
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