Ajit’s got hands full, some hope in Cong

Two days after Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president and former Agriculture minister Ajit Singh resigned from the Union Cabinet, he has hit the ...

Two days after Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president and former Agriculture minister Ajit Singh resigned from the Union Cabinet, he has hit the ground running. He has to save his party from breaking up in Uttar Pradesh — his 14 MLAs, which today support the Mayawati-led state government, are perilously close to going separate ways — or he may be the crucial factor which will bring a rival, alternative government in the state.

Already, one of his MLAs, Samarpal Singh, who was earlier suspended from the party, has been publicly meeting state BJP leaders like Lalji Tandon, and has aired his views unabashedly of the imminent break-up of the RLD. Ajit Singh has been a picture of confidence while responding: ‘‘The RLD is one of the few parties that have the distinction of never having split up despite rumours in the last three years.’’

RLD mlas put up
at a ‘safe’ place

LUCKNOW: Amid threats of poaching, the 14 MLAS of Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which decided to pull out of Mayawati ministry in Uttar Pradesh, have been moved to a ‘‘safe’’ place. ‘‘The MLAs have been put up at a safe place, away from the prying eyes of the possible poachers,’’ an RLD office-bearer told PTI preferring anonymity. Ajit is expected in the state capital on Tuesday. (PTI)

So, what lies ahead for the RLD, which has a lone MP in Parliament (Singh himself) and 13 MLAs, excluding Samarpal? The picture that emerges is yet another alternative third front in several states like UP, Haryana, Bihar, Karnataka, for starters.

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According to sources, a formidable Congress, SP, RLD and Kalyan Singh’s Rashtriya Kranti Party alternative Third Front combination will set the ball rolling for poll alliances in the next round of elections. Though the UP alternative, as it stands today, does not add up to the magic figure of 202 seats in the Assembly, any credible merger moves could turn the fortunes of the Mayawati government which has a wafer-thin majority of 208 MLAs today. Mayawati, on the other hand, seems unperturbed as she has continued with her two-week sojourn with her bureaucrats to Europe and the USA.

And, it could give the desperately needed impetus to bring together various splinter groups like disgruntled members in the Samata Party and JD-U in Bihar, bring a cohesiveness to the unity moves of the Janata Dal in Karnataka, cement the Jat vote for the Congress in Rajasthan, forge an alliance with Bansi Lal in Haryana (who, incidentally has never been associated with the Third Front ever). Of course, all this hinges on the plausible alternative government in UP.

According to sources, the RLD will make its first move within the next four days when it withdraws support to the Mayawati government and almost immediately submits an alternative formation to Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri. ‘‘It depends on how non-partisan the Governor will play. Remember, the Governor invited Mayawati only after the RLD gave its letter of support so he would be obliged to ask for a show of strength after it withdraws support,’’ says a source.

Members of this alternative formation pin their hopes on wooing disgruntled members of the BJP and BSP, many of whom have voiced their misapprehensions openly and some Independents. ‘‘This perfect picture will emerge only if all four parties come together on a platform and show their solidarity,’’ says a highly-placed source.