RLD chief to skip Patna Opposition meeting today, party cites ‘pre-decided family event’

However, the late-minute announcement will add fuel to suspicions of a rift between the RLD and its ally Samajwadi Party, which is among the prominent invitees at the Patna meeting.

In his letter, dated June 12 but released only on Thursday, Chaudhary reiterated his commitment to Opposition unity, calling it the need of the hour at a time that “dictatorial and communal powers have become a threat to democracy and societal harmony”.

Chaudhary added: “After holding discussions on the country’s problems and challenges, the Opposition can put forward a visionary and pragmatic approach in front of the people… Together we can win the confidence of youth, women, farmers and deprived sections and bring about a positive change in the country.”

Expressing confidence that Friday’s meeting in Patna “will be an important step towards Opposition unity”, the RLD chief told Nitish: “I wish you all the best.”

A senior RLD leader said Chaudhary fully backed the initiative for Opposition unity by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. “Jayantji had a pre-decided programme with his family to fly to a foreign country on June 16. Some of his relatives live there, and the programme was decided in advance… But he supports Nitish Kumar and his efforts to unite the Opposition. If he was in the country, he would have definitely gone for the Patna meeting,” the RLD leader said.

RLD spokesperson Anil Dubey said the speculation of a rift with the SP being behind Jayant’s decision was wrong. “There is no issue with (SP chief) Akhileshji. The two parties are still together, and are going strong. Jayantji is busy with a family engagement and will hence miss the meeting in Bihar. There is no other reason.”

SP national spokesperson Nidhi Yadav stressed that the party and RLD are “together”. “As the 2024 elections come close, things will become clearer as to how the two parties will contest. In his letter, Jayantji too has written that he is skipping the meeting due to personal reasons.”

The RLD has been an SP ally since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and shared warm ties during the 2022 UP Assembly polls that they fought together. The first rumours of a rift emerged in May this year, after RLD leaders expressed resentment at the SP not giving the party a ticket for a single mayor seat in the state urban local body elections.

The RLD reportedly wanted the ticket for the Meerut mayor seat, which was later won by the BJP, with the SP finishing third, behind the AIMIM.

Around this time, RLD leaders talked of the party exploring options for allies for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Party sources also talked of SP “bullying”, and dropped hints of moving towards the Congress. The Congress and RLD are both seen to be uncomfortable with Akhilesh’s projection as the tallest Opposition leader in UP.

The last occasion where Chaudhary and Akhilesh would have made a joint appearance was the swearing-in ceremony of Congress leader Siddaramaiah as Karnataka CM. Then, while Chaudhary was present, Akhilesh stayed away, citing “prior commitments”.

Officially though, the SP and RLD have always maintained that there is no rift between them.