Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Ramashish Rai announced that the party plans to contest in 12 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Rai expressed that the RLD lost its status as a state party in Uttar Pradesh due to its participation in a lesser number of seats than it had aimed for in the 2022 Assembly elections.
Speaking to ANI, Rai stated, We could have retained the state party status in UP if we had contested and won 15 seats. We are not angry with anyone. We want to reach a consensus with every party before declaring our candidates.
He further mentioned that the RLD made a sacrifice by giving up some seats they intended to contest in order to maintain an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP) before the UP Assembly elections in 2022.
We sacrificed seats that we wanted to contest in the interest of keeping the alliance alive with the Samajwadi Party. Our supporters were upset as we lost seats in Mathura and Aligarh because we were given fewer seats than we desired. Other parties in the alliance with the SP benefitted more than us in the last Assembly elections. We even lost our state party status, he explained.
On April 10, the Election Commission revoked the RLD’s state party status as it failed to secure 6 percent of the total votes polled in the state. In the last state elections in UP, the RLD, in collaboration with the SP, contested 33 seats but only managed to win 8.
The RLD’s decision to fight in 12 seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections indicates its determination to regain its stronghold and influence in the state. The party’s willingness to engage in discussions and reach a consensus with other political parties demonstrates its commitment to building strong alliances in preparation for the elections.
However, the RLD’s compromise in the previous Assembly elections has raised concerns among some of its supporters who feel neglected and not adequately represented. It remains to be seen how the party will address these concerns and regain the trust of its disheartened supporters.
The loss of state party status has undoubtedly posed challenges for the RLD, but its leaders remain optimistic about their prospects in the upcoming polls. As they strategize and finalize their candidates, the RLD aims to emerge as a significant contender in the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh once again.
The party’s decision to contest in 12 seats will certainly add excitement and competitiveness to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. It will be interesting to witness the dynamics between the RLD, other political parties, and the electorate as the battle for power and representation unfolds in Uttar Pradesh.
