They have forged a pre-poll alliance for the UP Assembly polls. Yet,the Congress and Ajit Singh-led RLD seem all set for a friendly fight for two seats in the state.
Singh recently announced party candidate for Kanth Assembly segment in Moradabad district despite the Congress having announced a candidate for the seat. The RLD has also fielded a candidate from Fatehpur Sikri Assembly segment in Agra district where the Congress has already announced its candidate.
It is going to be a friendly fight in Kanth. The RLD has informed the Congress about it, said a senior RLD leader.
While Kanth emerged as a bone of contention between the allies,way back in 1957,the constituency had witnessed a situation where with no party fielding candidates,the Congress nominee was elected unopposed. In fact,the RLDs decision has come as a surprise to the Congress,which has inducted Singh into the Union Cabinet and offered three seats to his party in eastern UP. The Congress has given Bikapur (in Faizabad district),Malhani (in Jaunpur) and Gyanpur (in Bhadohi) in the eastern part of the state despite the fact that RLDs stronghold is western UP.
Local SP leaders say that the RLDs move is an attempt to thwart the chances of former RLD leader and MP Anuradha Chaudhary,who recently switched over to the SP and is contesting from this constituency. The RLD has fielded a Jat candidate; Anuradha belongs to the same community.
The Congress appears to be digging its heels for a friendly contest in Fatehpur Sikri. The Congress had announced a candidate for the seat in August last year,before the pre-poll tie-up. Singh,however,had staked RLDs claim to the seat. It was agreed that the Congress will back off from Fatehpur Sikri. We hope they will honour their commitment, said a RLD leader. However,the Congress has,so far,not indicated its willingness to withdraw its candidate.
Meanwhile,Singh and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi are likely to hold their first joint rally in Meerut on February 2. Sources in both parties said they hope to sort out differences on these seats prior to the rally.