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Journalism of Courage
Attempts to forge a Fourth Front in UP comprising the Congress, Janmorcha and Rashtriya Lok Dal have run into rough weather with RLD leader Ajit Singh8217;s bargaining not going down well with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Source familiar with the ongoing negotiations, however, said the Janmorcha and the Congress were on the verge of a pact. Under the arrangement Janmorcha will take a bulk of seats from the Congress and in turn distribute it among smaller parties such as the UDF, PDP, LJP, CPI and so on.
But talks between Ajit Singh and the Congress was not making much headway. What has apparently put off Rahul is Ajit8217;s insistence on several seats in western UP where the Congress thinks it can perform well. The prospect of a Jat-Muslim social coalition can make for a winning formula in western UP that goes to polls in the first three phases of the polls. But Ajit is not in hurry to clinch a deal. But going alone is also not going to be easy for the Jat leader. Having been part of the Mulayam government all through, Ajit Singh cannot escape the anti-incumbency factor if he does not become part of a broader alliance.
Congress leaders hope that V P Singh can get the Jat leader see reason. Both the Singhs met on Tuesday, but after the meeting Ajit Singh8217;s managers claimed the Congress was being unreasonable. The Congress also understands the perils of going alone, and may make more concessions.
