Rashtriya Lok Dal national president Ajit Singh is exploring the possibility of forming a confederation of UP-based smaller political outfits,like the Peace Party of India,Bharatiya Samaj Party and the Bharatiya Janwadi Party,to increase his bargaining power for an electoral alliance with either the Congress or the Samajwadi Party ahead of the 2012 Assembly elections. Leaders of both the Congress and the SP have expressed willingness to have an alliance with the RLD for the elections. While SPs national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav met Ajit in New Delhi recently,AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh,who is in charge of UP,has also stated that his party would like to join hands with the RLD. Digvijaya Singhs statement regarding Congresss possible alliance with RLD is a good sign for us. At least it has made it clear that the Congress is in no position to pressure the RLD for merger,as it had been insisting in the past, a source in RLD said. Recently,Ajit discussed the possibility of bringing the states smaller parties on one political platform with PPI president Dr Ayub. PPI has emerged as a political force,with appeal among Muslims,in some districts of eastern UP,particularly in Gorakhpur,Azamgarh and Varanasi divisions. Ajit confirmed his meeting with Dr Ayub. He said it was premature to talk about a common platform of smaller parties,but all political forces should join hands to oust the BSP from power. Ayub said: Yes,I met Ajit Singh. I also want both the Congress and the SP to join hands with us in the next assembly elections. He claimed PPI already had an alliance with small outfits like the Bharatiya Samaj Party,Bharatiya Janwadi Party,the Indian Justice Party of Udit Raj,Ram Vilas Paswans LJP and Rashtriya Uday Manch. Representatives of these parties hold at least two meetings every month, Ayub said. Bharatiya Samaj Party president Om Prakash Rajbhar,too,confirmed that his party had an alliance with PPI.
