Shahid Siddiqui, the national vice president of Rashtriya Lok Dal has tendered his resignation from the party. His resignation comes following party leader Jayant Chaudhary's decision to join hands with the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Watch in for more details!

Lok Sabha Polls: RLD Vice President resigns from party over alliance with BJP

Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is expected to end a week earlier than planned. Congress has decided to exclude most parts of Western Uttar Pradesh, where the Rashtirya Lok Dal has a strong presence, from the campaign. Is this because of the latest snub from the RLD?

Gravitas | Another snub to I.N.D.I.A bloc: Why Congress cut short Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra?

In a major setback for I.N.D.I.A bloc, the&nbsp;Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary confirmed on Monday (Feb 12 that his party will contest the upcoming Indian General Election in alliance with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).&nbsp;

RLD is a regional political party based in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and was part of the I.N.D.I.A bloc. The shift comes days after the Narendra Modi government announced the highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, for&nbsp;former prime minister of India, Charan Singh, the grandfather&nbsp;of RLD&nbsp;chief Jayant Chaudhary.

While speaking to the media after the move, Chaudhary said that the party has taken this "decision in a short period of time, considering the situation". He added that there had been no "big planning" behind the decision.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-former-maharashtra-cm-ashok-chavan-quits-congress-reports-suggest-may-join-bjp-party-reacts-689510">Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan quits Congress, party reacts; reports suggest may join BJP</a>&nbsp;

RLD was founded by Ajit Singh, the son of former prime minister of India, Charan Singh in 1996. It was a breakaway faction of the Janata Dal. The decision was announced on the birth anniversary of the party's founder.&nbsp;

With this latest move, RLD has become the second party to walk out of the I.N.D.I.A alliance in the last one month after Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) in Bihar state.&nbsp;

Political experts have said that RLD's addition to NDA will boost NDA chances in the Lok Sabha elections in the western regions of Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently asserted in Parliament that his party will win 370 seats and the NDA will cross 400 in the polls to the 543-member House.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;More than 200 farmers' union announce March on Feb 13, police impose precautionary measures

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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bihar-cm-nitish-kumar-wins-trust-vote-in-a-major-setback-for-opposition-india-bloc-689530">Bihar CM Nitish Kumar wins trust vote in a major setback for opposition INDIA bloc</a>&nbsp;

<h2>TDP to join NDA again?&nbsp;</h2>

In another major development, reports have emerged that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) might join NDA as the Indian politician Nara Chandrababu Naidu, who is the president of TDP, recently met Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda.&nbsp;

After the meeting, speculations are rife that the political parties may join hands in Andhra Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls to be held simultaneously in the South Indian state.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a major setback for I.N.D.I.A bloc, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary confirmed on Monday (Feb 12 that his party will contest the upcoming Indian General Election in alliance with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

In a major setback for I.N.D.I.A bloc, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary confirmed on Monday (Feb 12 that his party will contest the upcoming Indian General Election in alliance with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). RLD is a regional political party based in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and was part of the I.N.D.I.A bloc. The shift comes days after the Narendra Modi government announced the highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, for former prime minister of India, Charan Singh, the grandfather of RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary. While speaking to the media after the move, Chaudhary said that the party has taken this "decision in a short period of time, considering the situation". He added that there had been no "big planning" behind the decision. Also read: Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan quits Congress, party reacts; reports suggest may join BJP RLD was founded by Ajit Singh, the son of former prime minister of India, Charan Singh in 1996. It was a breakaway faction of the Janata Dal. The decision was announced on the birth anniversary of the party's founder. With this latest move, RLD has become the second party to walk out of the I.N.D.I.A alliance in the last one month after Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) in Bihar state. Political experts have said that RLD's addition to NDA will boost NDA chances in the Lok Sabha elections in the western regions of Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently asserted in Parliament that his party will win 370 seats and the NDA will cross 400 in the polls to the 543-member House. Watch: More than 200 farmers' union announce March on Feb 13, police impose precautionary measures × Also read: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar wins trust vote in a major setback for opposition INDIA bloc TDP to join NDA again? In another major development, reports have emerged that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) might join NDA as the Indian politician Nara Chandrababu Naidu, who is the president of TDP, recently met Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda. After the meeting, speculations are rife that the political parties may join hands in Andhra Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls to be held simultaneously in the South Indian state. (With inputs from agencies)

Rashtriya Lok Dal joins NDA ahead of general election in major setback to I.N.D.I.A bloc

A day after the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/samajwadi-party-to-go-solo-in-uttar-pradesh-assembly-bypolls-if-bsp-tie-ends-akhilesh-yadav-224248"> SP and the BSP decided to contest alone </a>on all 11 seats in the upcoming assembly bypolls, their third alliance partner in the recent Lok Sabha elections - RLD - Wednesday announced it too will go solo.

Rashtriya Lok Dal UP president Masood Ahmad, however, expressed hope that the 'gathbandhan' remains intact.

"The Rashtriya Lok Dal will contest the UP assembly bypolls on its own whenever they are held. However, it is too early to comment on the political scene of the state," he told PTI.

Party chief Chaudhary Ajit Singh and Jayant Chaudhary will decide on the number of seats the party will contest and the matter may be discussed during a meeting in the next few days, Ahmad said.

When asked about the RLD's role in the new political landscape of the state, which sends the highest number of 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha, Ahmad said, "The RLD was with the Samajwadi Party. We got the seats from the quota of Akhilesh".

The UP RLD chief said the Congress should also be a part of the 'gathbandhan'.

When asked who will gain from the recent spate of political developments, Ahmad said, "The profit and loss analysis will be done later. Our wish is that the gathbandhan should increase its 'kunbaa' (clan), so that we can emerge as a strong anti-BJP force".

The UP assembly bypolls will be important for the RLD as it has no representation in the UP Legislative Assembly.

In the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, the RLD had contested from three constituencies, but faced defeat on all.

RLD candidates Ajit Singh and his son Jayant Chaudhary lost from Muzaffarnagar and Baghpat Lok Sabha seats respectively, while Kunwar Narendra Singh lost from Mathura.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, RLD candidates had to forfeit their deposits in six of the eight Lok Sabha seats they contested from Uttar Pradesh. The party managed to poll only 0.86 per cent of total votes in the state.

The father-son duo had lost the elections from their respective seats in 2014 as well.

The party's performance was equally dismal in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. The RLD contested 277 assembly seats but 266 of its candidates lost their deposits. Only one candidate -- Sahender Singh Ramala from Chhaprauli assembly constituency -- emerged victorious.

But he, too, left the RLD and joined the BJP in April last year.

In the UP Legislative Council, there are no RLD MLCs, as the term of party MLC Chaudhary Mushtaq ended in May last year.

The opposition 'gathbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh unravelled on Tuesday with BSP chief Mayawati declaring her party will fight the assembly bypolls alone, prompting Akhilesh Yadav to say his SP too is ready to go solo.

The Bahujan Samaj Party chief, however, said the break is not permanent and she can work with the Samajwadi Party again if the SP president can "fulfil his duties".

Reacting to her statement, Yadav told reporters in Ghazipur, "If the alliance ends, we will field SP candidates on all 11 seats up for the bypolls after consulting party leaders soon."

Mayawati said she will try to ensure that the BSP-SP relationship stays intact.

A day after the SP and the BSP decided to contest alone on all 11 seats in the upcoming assembly bypolls, their third alliance partner in the recent Lok Sabha elections - RLD - Wednesday announced it too will go solo.

A day after the SP and the BSP decided to contest alone on all 11 seats in the upcoming assembly bypolls, their third alliance partner in the recent Lok Sabha elections - RLD - Wednesday announced it too will go solo. Rashtriya Lok Dal UP president Masood Ahmad, however, expressed hope that the 'gathbandhan' remains intact. "The Rashtriya Lok Dal will contest the UP assembly bypolls on its own whenever they are held. However, it is too early to comment on the political scene of the state," he told PTI. Party chief Chaudhary Ajit Singh and Jayant Chaudhary will decide on the number of seats the party will contest and the matter may be discussed during a meeting in the next few days, Ahmad said. When asked about the RLD's role in the new political landscape of the state, which sends the highest number of 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha, Ahmad said, "The RLD was with the Samajwadi Party. We got the seats from the quota of Akhilesh". The UP RLD chief said the Congress should also be a part of the 'gathbandhan'. When asked who will gain from the recent spate of political developments, Ahmad said, "The profit and loss analysis will be done later. Our wish is that the gathbandhan should increase its 'kunbaa' (clan), so that we can emerge as a strong anti-BJP force". The UP assembly bypolls will be important for the RLD as it has no representation in the UP Legislative Assembly. In the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, the RLD had contested from three constituencies, but faced defeat on all. RLD candidates Ajit Singh and his son Jayant Chaudhary lost from Muzaffarnagar and Baghpat Lok Sabha seats respectively, while Kunwar Narendra Singh lost from Mathura. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, RLD candidates had to forfeit their deposits in six of the eight Lok Sabha seats they contested from Uttar Pradesh. The party managed to poll only 0.86 per cent of total votes in the state. The father-son duo had lost the elections from their respective seats in 2014 as well. The party's performance was equally dismal in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. The RLD contested 277 assembly seats but 266 of its candidates lost their deposits. Only one candidate -- Sahender Singh Ramala from Chhaprauli assembly constituency -- emerged victorious. But he, too, left the RLD and joined the BJP in April last year. In the UP Legislative Council, there are no RLD MLCs, as the term of party MLC Chaudhary Mushtaq ended in May last year. The opposition 'gathbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh unravelled on Tuesday with BSP chief Mayawati declaring her party will fight the assembly bypolls alone, prompting Akhilesh Yadav to say his SP too is ready to go solo. The Bahujan Samaj Party chief, however, said the break is not permanent and she can work with the Samajwadi Party again if the SP president can "fulfil his duties". Reacting to her statement, Yadav told reporters in Ghazipur, "If the alliance ends, we will field SP candidates on all 11 seats up for the bypolls after consulting party leaders soon." Mayawati said she will try to ensure that the BSP-SP relationship stays intact.

Now RLD announces it will fight UP assembly bypolls alone

Lok Sabha elections are going to see some interesting battles this year. Among them is the fight in Baghpat, one of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, where voting will be held in the first phase on April 11.

In the 2014 election, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Satyapal Singh won the seat with a margin of 2,09,866 votes defeating Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Ajit Singh. The victory was significant because Satyapal Singh was contesting for the first time and Ajit Singh had been winning the seat since 1999. The election saw a voter turnout of 71.58 per cent. Of the 14 contestants who were in the fray, 11 lost their deposits.

Satyapal Singh, who was the Mumbai Police Commissioner, quit the post to join politics. After the successful electoral contest against the RLD chief, he became a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet.

During his tenure in Mumbai, he is credited with breaking the backbone of organised crime syndicates that terrorised Mumbai in the 1990s, including the Chhota Rajan, Chhota Shakeel and Arun Gawli gangs. That tenure saw several encounter killings in Mumbai with specialists such as Daya Nayak, Pradeep Sharma and Vijay Salaskar given the licence to take on the underworld. It was during this stint that the 25 August 2003 Mumbai bombings at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar took place.

This time, the voting for Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases and Baghpat will be going to polls in the first phase. What makes the electoral fight interesting is that RLD has fielded Ajit Singh's son Jayant Chaudhary against Satyapal Singh, who has been chosen again by the BJP.

The RLD has teamed up with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the alliance feels that it will benefit from division of Jat votes this time, and that the Muslim, Dalits and backward sections will vote for them.

Counting for the election will be held on May 23. Along with the Baghpat district, the constituency covers parts of Meerut, Ghaziabad and Shamli districts.

After the reorganisation of the parliamentary constituencies in 2008, Baghpat Lok Sabha constituency comprises of five legislative assembly segments, namely Siwalkhas, Chhaprauli, Baraut, Baghpat and Modi Nagar.

Lok Sabha elections are going to see some interesting battles this year. Among them is the fight in Baghpat, one of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, where voting will be held in the first phase on April 11.

Lok Sabha elections are going to see some interesting battles this year. Among them is the fight in Baghpat, one of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, where voting will be held in the first phase on April 11. In the 2014 election, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Satyapal Singh won the seat with a margin of 2,09,866 votes defeating Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Ajit Singh. The victory was significant because Satyapal Singh was contesting for the first time and Ajit Singh had been winning the seat since 1999. The election saw a voter turnout of 71.58 per cent. Of the 14 contestants who were in the fray, 11 lost their deposits. Satyapal Singh, who was the Mumbai Police Commissioner, quit the post to join politics. After the successful electoral contest against the RLD chief, he became a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet. During his tenure in Mumbai, he is credited with breaking the backbone of organised crime syndicates that terrorised Mumbai in the 1990s, including the Chhota Rajan, Chhota Shakeel and Arun Gawli gangs. That tenure saw several encounter killings in Mumbai with specialists such as Daya Nayak, Pradeep Sharma and Vijay Salaskar given the licence to take on the underworld. It was during this stint that the 25 August 2003 Mumbai bombings at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar took place. This time, the voting for Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases and Baghpat will be going to polls in the first phase. What makes the electoral fight interesting is that RLD has fielded Ajit Singh's son Jayant Chaudhary against Satyapal Singh, who has been chosen again by the BJP. The RLD has teamed up with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the alliance feels that it will benefit from division of Jat votes this time, and that the Muslim, Dalits and backward sections will vote for them. Counting for the election will be held on May 23. Along with the Baghpat district, the constituency covers parts of Meerut, Ghaziabad and Shamli districts. After the reorganisation of the parliamentary constituencies in 2008, Baghpat Lok Sabha constituency comprises of five legislative assembly segments, namely Siwalkhas, Chhaprauli, Baraut, Baghpat and Modi Nagar.

Baghpat battle: After defeating father Ajit Singh, BJP's Satyapal Singh pitted against Jayant Chaudhary

The Congress is more capable than the BJP in building alliances and collaborating with parties, Rashtriya Lok Dal Vice President Jayant Chaudhary has said, asserting that the Rahul Gandhi-led party can play a key role in forging an opposition coalition for the 2019 polls.

Buoyed by the win in the Kairana parliamentary bypoll, he said public opinion and electoral results such as the bypoll victory will act as a "glue" for cementing a coalition for the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate Tabassum Hasan, who was supported by the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress, triumphed last week over her BJP rival in Kairana to become the first Muslim face from Uttar Pradesh in the 16th Lok Sabha.

Her victory also gave RLD, its first representative in the current Lok Sabha after the party drew a blank in the 2014 general election.

In an interview to PTI, Chaudhary said the BJP wants to make the 2019 polls a battle of personalities, but the opposition wants to project issues rather than a personality to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"They (the BJP) have built a personality cult around Modi and now they expect the opposition to also thrust upon the nation a similar figure so that the two can sort of take each other on," the 39-year-old leader said.

Chaudhary, who is the son of RLD chief Ajit Singh and the grandson of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, said there was more talent in the opposition ranks and more freedom to express than in the BJP.

"So, I think going into 2019, I am not sure there will be an understanding of who's on top and who's at the bottom (of the opposition alliance), but we will be working together. That is important for the country," he asserted.

Asked if Congress being a pan-India party could be the pivot of the opposition alliance to take on the BJP, he said, "Congress today is the largest opposition party and they have an organisation in most states of the country that is still strong.

"... I see a good story emerging. Congress can definitely play that role. They can cooperate and collaborate more effectively than the BJP."

He said that due to the manner in which the BJP has dealt with its own allies, the saffron party's alliance partners were either breaking away or speaking very openly against it.

"So, the Congress has an opportunity here to try and make new relationships with these partners as well," he said.

Asked if the Congress was more capable of building alliances and working in unison with parties in an alliance, Chaudhary said, "That's my perception, (and) that is the perception of a lot of people in the political system."

Chaudhary, whose party RLD has been in an alliance with the BJP in the past, also alleged that there was arrogance that had crept into the BJP and it was no longer 'the party with a difference'.

"They (the BJP) have shown that they are willing to grab power at any cost. So I think these are all signals and they are very threatening to smaller parties, to regional parties, to anyone who believes that there needs to be cooperation, so that's why I think that there is a mindset now that's been developed in the opposition parties at least that the BJP is a complete no," he said.

The BJP leads the NDA coalition at the Centre. The Telugu Desam Party recently quit the NDA, while the Shiv Sena has been critical of the BJP over several issues.

Chaudhary also asserted that if the alliance between his party, the SP, the BSP and the Congress in UP takes shape, it would help the Congress in states where it is involved in a direct contest with the BJP.

"I think ultimately it (the alliance in UP) will help Congress in the states where it is taking on the BJP, there numbers will go up... If Congress takes us along and tells us that lets work together in other states as well, some of these opposition leaders will be very willing to do that," the former MP said.

Acknowledging that seat sharing would not be easy for the grand alliance in UP, he said the "social coalition" formed was more important than just simple political arithmetic or simple political coalition.

"So, to sustain that social coalition, if political parties have to forego their own interest and work together, I think we should do it," Chaudhary said.

Talking about the Kairana bypoll win, he said it was basically a message to political parties that the alliance was also the people's will.

"It was a negative vote against BJP. It was also a positive vote for the opposition working together. Going forward it is this public opinion and these good results that will perhaps act as the glue for cementing the alliance," Chaudhary said.

The united opposition victory in Kairana follows the BJP defeats in the Lok Sabha bye-elections in Gorakhpur and Phulpur in March, and come just a year before the general election.

Talking about his 'Ganna not Jinnah' campaign in Kairana, he said the campaign based around the farmer identity was able to trump the religious identity model.

"It is a strong signal that going forward also the antagonistic tone that the BJP has employed in many elections, the Hindu-Muslim rhetoric, it may not work," Chaudhary said.

Asserting that alliances are here to stay, he said the reason he feels the alliance in UP would continue was because it has tasted success. 
"When you win an election, there is pressure from your workers, there is pressure from the voters to continue," Chaudhary said.

Buoyed by the win in the Kairana parliamentary bypoll, he said public opinion and electoral results such as the bypoll victory will act as a "glue" for cementing a coalition for the Lok Sabha polls next year

The Congress is more capable than the BJP in building alliances and collaborating with parties, Rashtriya Lok Dal Vice President Jayant Chaudhary has said, asserting that the Rahul Gandhi-led party can play a key role in forging an opposition coalition for the 2019 polls. Buoyed by the win in the Kairana parliamentary bypoll, he said public opinion and electoral results such as the bypoll victory will act as a "glue" for cementing a coalition for the Lok Sabha polls next year. Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate Tabassum Hasan, who was supported by the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress, triumphed last week over her BJP rival in Kairana to become the first Muslim face from Uttar Pradesh in the 16th Lok Sabha. Her victory also gave RLD, its first representative in the current Lok Sabha after the party drew a blank in the 2014 general election. In an interview to PTI, Chaudhary said the BJP wants to make the 2019 polls a battle of personalities, but the opposition wants to project issues rather than a personality to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "They (the BJP) have built a personality cult around Modi and now they expect the opposition to also thrust upon the nation a similar figure so that the two can sort of take each other on," the 39-year-old leader said. Chaudhary, who is the son of RLD chief Ajit Singh and the grandson of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, said there was more talent in the opposition ranks and more freedom to express than in the BJP. "So, I think going into 2019, I am not sure there will be an understanding of who's on top and who's at the bottom (of the opposition alliance), but we will be working together. That is important for the country," he asserted. Asked if Congress being a pan-India party could be the pivot of the opposition alliance to take on the BJP, he said, "Congress today is the largest opposition party and they have an organisation in most states of the country that is still strong. "... I see a good story emerging. Congress can definitely play that role. They can cooperate and collaborate more effectively than the BJP." He said that due to the manner in which the BJP has dealt with its own allies, the saffron party's alliance partners were either breaking away or speaking very openly against it. "So, the Congress has an opportunity here to try and make new relationships with these partners as well," he said. Asked if the Congress was more capable of building alliances and working in unison with parties in an alliance, Chaudhary said, "That's my perception, (and) that is the perception of a lot of people in the political system." Chaudhary, whose party RLD has been in an alliance with the BJP in the past, also alleged that there was arrogance that had crept into the BJP and it was no longer 'the party with a difference'. "They (the BJP) have shown that they are willing to grab power at any cost. So I think these are all signals and they are very threatening to smaller parties, to regional parties, to anyone who believes that there needs to be cooperation, so that's why I think that there is a mindset now that's been developed in the opposition parties at least that the BJP is a complete no," he said. The BJP leads the NDA coalition at the Centre. The Telugu Desam Party recently quit the NDA, while the Shiv Sena has been critical of the BJP over several issues. Chaudhary also asserted that if the alliance between his party, the SP, the BSP and the Congress in UP takes shape, it would help the Congress in states where it is involved in a direct contest with the BJP. "I think ultimately it (the alliance in UP) will help Congress in the states where it is taking on the BJP, there numbers will go up... If Congress takes us along and tells us that lets work together in other states as well, some of these opposition leaders will be very willing to do that," the former MP said. Acknowledging that seat sharing would not be easy for the grand alliance in UP, he said the "social coalition" formed was more important than just simple political arithmetic or simple political coalition. "So, to sustain that social coalition, if political parties have to forego their own interest and work together, I think we should do it," Chaudhary said. Talking about the Kairana bypoll win, he said it was basically a message to political parties that the alliance was also the people's will. "It was a negative vote against BJP. It was also a positive vote for the opposition working together. Going forward it is this public opinion and these good results that will perhaps act as the glue for cementing the alliance," Chaudhary said. The united opposition victory in Kairana follows the BJP defeats in the Lok Sabha bye-elections in Gorakhpur and Phulpur in March, and come just a year before the general election. Talking about his 'Ganna not Jinnah' campaign in Kairana, he said the campaign based around the farmer identity was able to trump the religious identity model. "It is a strong signal that going forward also the antagonistic tone that the BJP has employed in many elections, the Hindu-Muslim rhetoric, it may not work," Chaudhary said. Asserting that alliances are here to stay, he said the reason he feels the alliance in UP would continue was because it has tasted success. "When you win an election, there is pressure from your workers, there is pressure from the voters to continue," Chaudhary said.

Congress more capable of building alliances than BJP: RLD's Jayant Chaudhary

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chaudhary, whose party candidate wrested the Kairana Lok Sabha seat from BJP in the bypolls, on Thursday said that the united opposition had succeeded in halting the "chariot of hate" of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.

The combined opposition would keep its momentum to defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections next year, he said.

"I am confident that RLD will play a role in how to carry forward the opposition unity and alliance and ensure we give an alternative to BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Whatever the alliance, we will play a positive role," he told reporters.

His comments came after the combined opposition candidate Tabassum Hasan defeated BJP`s Mriganka Singh in Kairana and Samajwadi Party candidate won in the Noorpur Assembly election. The SP and Congress backed the RLD while the BSP was said to have extended its tacit support. Mriganka Singh is the daughter of Hukum Singh, whose death necessitated the bypoll.

"Normally, the ruling party is supposed to win by-polls. It`s been just a year that BJP formed a majority government in the state. So in that sense it is a big victory for us. The BJP does not like losing elections. They don`t understand it (loss).

"The BJP is used to high-decibel and high-voltage campaign. They use the media and are visible in all forums. They use all the strength at their command to win elections by any means and the nation saw how Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public meeting in neighbouring Baghpat on Sunday in an influence voters here. The Chief Minister and Deputy Minister, MPs and MLAs were all here to rake up the agenda of riots. But the people did not accept it. Their agenda has been rejected," Chaudhary said.

"We had said earlier that in the contest between `ganna` (sugarcane) and Jinnah, ganna would win. Jinnah and danga (communal riot) have been defeated and ganna has won. We see that the real issues, that of the the farmers, development and the youth have dominated," Chaudhary, the son of former Union Minister Ajit Singh, said while addressing the media.

He said the BJP does a lot of tom-tomming about its achievements. "It is one or two people running the nation now. The Prime Minister likes to take credit -- whether it is the Mars Mission or a six km road construction. So if you take credit for everything, then people are bound to ask where is the Modi wave."&nbsp;

The BJP had swept 73 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 general elections and won an overwhelming 312 seats out of a total 423 in the state assembly elections last year.

(With agency&nbsp;inputs) 
&nbsp;

"I am confident that RLD will play a role in how to carry forward the opposition unity and alliance and ensure we give an alternative to BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Whatever the alliance, we will play a positive role," he told reporters.

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chaudhary, whose party candidate wrested the Kairana Lok Sabha seat from BJP in the bypolls, on Thursday said that the united opposition had succeeded in halting the "chariot of hate" of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. The combined opposition would keep its momentum to defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections next year, he said. "I am confident that RLD will play a role in how to carry forward the opposition unity and alliance and ensure we give an alternative to BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Whatever the alliance, we will play a positive role," he told reporters. His comments came after the combined opposition candidate Tabassum Hasan defeated BJP`s Mriganka Singh in Kairana and Samajwadi Party candidate won in the Noorpur Assembly election. The SP and Congress backed the RLD while the BSP was said to have extended its tacit support. Mriganka Singh is the daughter of Hukum Singh, whose death necessitated the bypoll. "Normally, the ruling party is supposed to win by-polls. It`s been just a year that BJP formed a majority government in the state. So in that sense it is a big victory for us. The BJP does not like losing elections. They don`t understand it (loss). "The BJP is used to high-decibel and high-voltage campaign. They use the media and are visible in all forums. They use all the strength at their command to win elections by any means and the nation saw how Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public meeting in neighbouring Baghpat on Sunday in an influence voters here. The Chief Minister and Deputy Minister, MPs and MLAs were all here to rake up the agenda of riots. But the people did not accept it. Their agenda has been rejected," Chaudhary said. "We had said earlier that in the contest between `ganna` (sugarcane) and Jinnah, ganna would win. Jinnah and danga (communal riot) have been defeated and ganna has won. We see that the real issues, that of the the farmers, development and the youth have dominated," Chaudhary, the son of former Union Minister Ajit Singh, said while addressing the media. He said the BJP does a lot of tom-tomming about its achievements. "It is one or two people running the nation now. The Prime Minister likes to take credit -- whether it is the Mars Mission or a six km road construction. So if you take credit for everything, then people are bound to ask where is the Modi wave." The BJP had swept 73 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 general elections and won an overwhelming 312 seats out of a total 423 in the state assembly elections last year. (With agency inputs)

Kairana bypoll: We have stopped 'chariot of hate' in UP, says RLD

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) spokesman and former MLA Saheb Singh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, according to reports.

Several others from the RLD from western Uttar Pradesh also joined the BJP in presence of state BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey, the report added.

The move is seen as an attempt by the ruling BJP to strengthen the party's position ahead of Kairana Lok Sabha by-election of May 28.

The seat fell vacant after the death of incumbent BJP MP Hukum Singh. His daughter has been fielded by the BJP.

RLD`s lone legislator Mahendra Singh has already joined the BJP.

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RLD`s lone legislator Mahendra Singh has already joined the BJP.

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) spokesman and former MLA Saheb Singh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, according to reports. Several others from the RLD from western Uttar Pradesh also joined the BJP in presence of state BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey, the report added. The move is seen as an attempt by the ruling BJP to strengthen the party's position ahead of Kairana Lok Sabha by-election of May 28. The seat fell vacant after the death of incumbent BJP MP Hukum Singh. His daughter has been fielded by the BJP. RLD`s lone legislator Mahendra Singh has already joined the BJP.

RLD spokesman Saheb Singh joins BJP

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