Though RLD chief Ajit Singh is not likely to be inducted in the Union Cabinet in the anticipated reshuffle soon, the Congress and RLD have agreed in principle for seat-sharing talks for the next year’s UP Assembly elections.
“No formal talks have been held on seat-sharing with the Congress but informally the process has begun. It will take some time to arrive at the formula,” said a senior RLD leader.
Sources said that Mr Singh, whose induction in the Union Cabinet had been on the cards, will have to wait for more. “The RLD chief will not be part of the anticipated Cabinet reshuffle. He could be inducted later on when reshuffle on a largescale is carried out,” added the sources in the RLD. Though the RLD has already entered into an alliance with a number of smaller parties in UP, including the Peace Party, the party leaders maintain that the seat-sharing with the Congress will be independent of its ties with others.
Sources said that the seat-sharing talks between the RLD and Congress at the informal level has already run into hurdle with claims and counter-claims by two parties on a number of constituencies in the western UP. “There is difference of opinion between the RLD and Congress on a couple of constituencies in Aligarh, Mathura and Hathras regions. Even in Muzaffarnagar the parties have to wriggle out of differences on Thana Bhavan and Chardhaval constituencies. Even the constituencies of Shyamli and Shivkhas are bone of contention between the two parties,” sources said. The RLD leaders said that the formula of the party having won a constituency or having come second on that will have the first claim on the seat. “The Congress by going through this formula will have claims on about 12 constituencies in western UP. The RLD will also stake claims on few of the seats in eastern UP apart from the Bundelkhand region,” added the senior RLD leader.