Working on grand alliance for UP assembly polls: Sharad Yadav

Sources in the JD(U) told The Indian Express that the party wants to find a firmer foothold in UP by carefully working on the Kurmi community, cashing in on the leadership of Nitish Kumar, a Kurmi. Kurmis, spread over a many assembly seats, have been voting for BJP in large numbers because the party had steadily built several layers of leadership from amongst them. So, any poaching by the JD(U) would harm the BJP. Sources also said that BJP has lost ground among members of the Jat community in western UP, and Ajit Singh, despite his rout in the last Lok Sabha polls, has again emerged a key player.

The broad contours of a coalition against the BJP were believed to have been discussed during Ajit Singh’s meeting with Yadav a few days ago. Singh also discussed the issue with Nitish, said sources. Asked about SP joining the alliance, Yadav said: “We made them the leader of the mahagathbandhan (in Bihar) but they left.” While sources admitted there had been no talks with the Congress on the issue, they were sure that the party would take the lead in forging the fourth alternative.

Sources claimed that with the SP and the BSP determined to go it alone, the Congress, RLD and the JD(U) could only improve their prospects by pooling votes. “People in Bihar were divided between parties… But when JD(U) and RJD joined hands, they got united and defeated BJP…We have to form a similar organisation in UP,” said Yadav.

RLD state president Munna Singh Chauhan, who attended Sunday’s meeting, appealed to Yadav to urge Nitish to address a public meeting in Bikapur, from where Chauhan is contesting.

According to sources, Nitish and JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi also recently met Ayub Ansari, the chief of Peace Party. “Along with Congress, JD(U) wants to extend the Bihar’s grand alliance to UP… Some parties like Peace Party, Apna Dal (Krishna Patel group) and RLD, would also join in…”Tyagi said.