The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), in an apparent effort to sew up a non-NDA and non-UPA front, would bring leaders of major regional parties together at Rohtak—three days before the constituency goes to polls on September 28.The occasion is the birth anniversary of late Chaudhary Devi Lal on September 25.The INLD initiative will see National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah, Shiromani Akali Dal president Prakash Singh Badal, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, and Thanacho of the Nagaland Peoples’ Front in Kohima share stage. INLD’s Rohtak rallies are generally well-attended.Convenor of the rally, Ajay Chautala, said the leaders had confirmed attendance but refused to say if they were moving on the path to form a political front.Sources say the parties have selected Haryana for the rally as it does not have a major presence of the BJP, with whom some regional parties have a tie up.For the INLD, it would be a show of strength before the byelection and would see former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala attack the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government for the first time in public, after losing elections six months ago.Although he was stated to be canvalascing after a leg injury, party sources claimed it was a deliberate move. ‘‘He wanted to first see the performance of the Congress government,’’ said an INLD leader.Sources said Chautala and Badal had been in the forefront of moves to unite regional parties to emerge as alternative to the Congress and the BJP. Sources said after Rohtak, the leaders would meet in Delhi, where the TDP would play host.
