Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh, who was sworn in as Union Minister on Sunday, said his party's alliance with the Congress would give a “clear-cut alternative” to the people of Uttar Pradesh in the coming Assembly elections.
Accusing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of running an “oppressive rule” in the State, Mr. Singh said: “Our mind now is on Uttar Pradesh. The people of U.P. are feeling oppressed by the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party government… but now they have a clear-cut alternative in the RLD-Congress combine.”
Talking to journalists after his swearing-in at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Jat leader claimed that the RLD-Congress alliance had generated a “wave” in Uttar Pradesh and its repercussions would be felt across the country, particularly in the northern States. “The [political] wave that will begin from Uttar Pradesh will have a lasting effect on the whole country.”
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As a result of its alliance with the Congress for the U.P. polls, the RLD, which has considerable influence in the western districts (also known as the sugarcane belt), is likely to contest 40-50 of the total 403 seats. The party now has only 10 MLAs, while it won five Lok Sabha seats in 2009 when it contested the elections under the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.