Morcha coalition stuck on seats

After months of speculation of a coalition between the Morcha, RLD and Congress, sources say talks have ground to a halt for two main reasons — the RLD’s ‘unreasonable’ demands for a major chunk of the 403 seats and also a division in the Congress ranks to go it alone in the polls.

Morcha leaders today declared its decision to contest only 193 seats in the polls. Babbar and Singh also announced the inclusion of the United Democratic Front (UDF), a Muslim-led front, and the CPI, into the coalition.

“This is a fight for issues, not merely a political contest. We appeal to all like-minded leaders and parties to join forces to fight Mulayam Yadav,” Babbar said. If the Morcha has kept a window open for a possible option for the Congress to align with it, there is another niggling problem for the RLD. Says a source, “Ajit Singh is also demanding that the UDF give up at least a dozen seats in western UP, so that the latter does not eat into his Jat-Muslim base in the region. The RLD leader is insisting on it, so the brakes have been put on talks between him and the Morcha. It is a touch and go situation.”

Babbar is candid when he says there is no finality in the Morcha’s declared list and that “adjustments can be made.”