The much-talked-about alliance of Samajwadi Party with Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya lok Dal (RlD) has run into rough weather with contradictory signals emanating from the ruling party. Now, the SP has also dropped the idea of supporting the candidature of Ajit Singh for Rajya Sabha.
Samajwadi Party has however left the issue of electoral tie-up with RlD to party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav voiced his strong reservations against any tie-up with the RlD saying that Ajit Singh had no political credibility.
In the last three decades, Singh has alligned with almost all parties including the SP or was a part of an alliance. He did so to for narrow political interests or a post. The moment his objective was achieved, he did not mind ditching the party or alliance. In the light of these facts, how can he be trusted for an alliance for the 2017 Assembly pollsIJ" Ram Gopal Yadav asked in Ferozabad on Monday.
On the other hand, senior SP leader Shivpal Yadav said, "The exercise for an alliance with RlD and other formations is being carried out by SP to defeat BJP in the 2017 polls. It is the need of the hour for all secular parties to close their ranks and put up a united effort and stop the BJP in its tracks."
Meanwhile, SP sources said that Ajit Singh wanted alliance at any cost to enter the Rajya Sabha but erred by delaying the channels of communication with `Netaji’(Mulayam Singh Yadav) and linked the alliance with his nomination to Rajya Sabha.
The sources also said that Singh approached the SP after failing to get anything out of his parleys with the Janata Dal (United) and the BJP.
A senior SP leader said that the alliance with RlD was the brainchild of newly-inducted leader Amar Singh. "He pushed the alliance with Ajit Singh as he wanted to clear his old debts. Amar Singh contested the Fatehpur Sikri seat in 2015 lok Sabha polls on a RlD ticket while his associate Jaya Prada contested the Bijnor seat as RlD candidate in 2014," said the SP leader.
"Any alliance should be inked after carefully analysing the pros and cons. It is to be ascertained how much do the Jat community rally behind Ajit Singh and whether he enjoys the support of the Muslims. It is also to be scanned whether the schism between Jats and Muslims post-Muzaffarnagar riots in 2013 has been bridged or not. If a section of Jats vote for the BJP then Muslims would be polarised and they could vote for the BSP en mass which could be suicidal for the Samajwadi Party,’’ the Sp leader opined.
