Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary pays homage at Kisan Ghat on former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh's birth anniversary.
Credit: PTI Photo
Lucknow: Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Choudhary on Friday almost made it clear that he would ditch the I.N.D.I.A alliance and join hands with the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, a decision which is likely to alter the electoral equations in the 'Jat' dominated western region of the state in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections due in two month's time.
A visibly happy Jayant following Centre's decision to confer 'Bharat Ratna' on his grandfather and former Prime Minister Choudhary Charan Singh, said that he found himself in a situation where he could not say 'no', when asked if he would join hands with the BJP.
''Koi kasar rehti hai....aaj main kis muh se inkar karoon aapke sawalon ka'' (Is there anything left for doubt?...How can I say no to your question?), Jayant said when asked if he would be joining hands with the BJP.
The RLD chief also posted a message on 'X' (formerly Twitter) heaping praise on prime minister Narendra Modi for conferring 'Bharat Ratna' on Charan Singh saying that Modi did what the previous governments could not do.
According to the RLD sources here, Jayant could announce the decision to join the NDA once the ongoing talks over seat sharing with the BJP and his demand for ministerial berths in the state government were final.
Sources said that the BJP had offered Baghpat and Bijnore Lok Sabha seats to Jayant in the forthcoming LS polls along with a Rajya Sabha berth for the RLD chief. His party could also be given a ministerial berth in the state government.
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav also appeared to admit that Jayant could ditch the opposition alliance. ''BJP knows when and how to break parties,'' he said when queried in this regard.
Jayant's possible switch over was certain to alter the electoral equations in the 'Jat' dominated western region in the state. RLD wields considerable influence on the 'Jat' voters in the region and his departure from the opposition alliance would be a huge setback to it after the exit of JD (U) chief Nitish Kumar in Bihar.