The Rashtriya Lok Dal is now making a conscious effort to spread its base in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The party, which so far had a base only in western UP, is now aiming for a foothold in other parts of the state as well.
To mark a beginning, the RLD on Tuesday flagged off its “Badlav Yatra” from Kaushambhi district in eastern UP. The yatra, flagged off by Jayant Choudhury, will tour 21 districts in the region and establish a direct contact with backward, minorities and dalits in the area. “We undoubtedly want to expand our area of influence and we are concentrating on Purvanchal along with other parts of the state. The idea is to broaden the base of the party and also increase our vote percentage. The RLD has always been a farmer-centric party and we will now address the problems of farmers in all parts of the state,” said a senior RLD leader.
It is, perhaps, with this intention that the RLD has also joined hands with the Peace Party which is gradually building up a base in eastern and central UP.
“The Peace Party needs a base in western UP and we need one in eastern UP. The benefit of the alliance will be mutual,” the leader added. It is noteworthy that the RLD lost is recognition as a state party after the last assembly elections in 2007 and could restore it only after its vote percentage shot up in the Lok Sabha elections in 2009. The party is now keen to ensure that it contests a larger number of seats and gets a higher vote percentage so that there is no risk of losing its status of being a state party. Besides, a pan-UP presence will help the RLD in striking a better political bargain in the coming years. According to RLD sources, the party is poised to contest seats in eastern and central UP in the coming assembly elections and hopes to make it presence amply felt in the region. “We are in the process of shortlisting constituencies where the RLD will contest in the assembly polls and also the candidates with a good image who will have an edge over others,” he said.