UP polls: JD(U), ex-BSP leader join forces with RLD

In a significant development ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, JD(U) and erstwhile BSP leader R K Choudhary on Tuesday joined forces with RLD and backed RLD chief Ajit Singh’s son Jayant Chaudhary as chief ministerial candidate.

JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his party colleague Sharad Yadav and Choudhary addressed a rally jointly with Ajit Singh here in the RLD-stronghold, seeking support for his son and former MP Jayant Chaudhary.

“We had been in talks about UP since February-March.People here want a change...People of UP want change and they want to get rid of all those who have already been given a chance in the state,” said Kumar while addressing the rally.

He said the scenario in UP has been that either BSP or SP has been coming to power alternately .

“Contrary to the statements that are doing round about UP, here it is not BJP, BSP or SP. It is only Jayant Chaudhary,” the Bihar Chief Minister said.

Kumar, who has intensified campaign in UP with rallies in eastern and western parts of the state, said people, including women, turned up in these programmes to highlight their woes.

Attacking BJP, he said the people of UP had given them 71 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 which not one leader of the saffron party could have imagined.

“They said additional 50 per cent MSP would be given on crops, good days will come. People voted for them and see the situation today,” the JD(U) leader said.

Referring to Crop Insurance Scheme, he noted that it has been renamed as Prime Minister Beema Fasal Yojna.

“I am the Chief Cinister of a state. Let me tell you, under this so-called new scheme the Centre, the state and the farmer has to pay the premium equally. But they have named it ‘Prime Minister Beema Fasal Yojna’. It should have instead been named ‘Prime Minister-Chief Minister-Farmer Beema Fasal Yojna,” he said.

While targeting the Crop Insurance Scheme, the Bihar Chief Minister said, “While earlier the money was transferred directly to the farmer, now the amount is sent to the insurance company.” 

He said a farmer-friendly government is there neither at the Centre nor in Uttar Pradesh and appealed to the people to express their mandate without falling prey to the slogans.

“We all are here on the same stage. The message is clear.The way so-called election analysts got stumped during Bihar assembly election results, the same would be repeated in UP. You support us and we will ensure that he (Jayant Chaudhary) reaches Lucknow,” Kumar said.

“If we get some power, we will get liquor prohibited here also,” said the Bihar Chief Minister who has implemented prohibition in his state despite the High Court ordering otherwise.

Ajit Singh said, “This rally is to send out the message of beginning of BJP’s end.” 

Attacking the saffron party, he said, “They had promised Rs 15 lakh in everyone’s account, Rs 400 per quintal MSP for sugarcane, implementation of the M S Swaminathan Committee’s report... What has happened? Unemployed is on the rise. They had claimed that 2 crore jobs would be generated each year, even 2 lakh jobs are not available,” Singh said.

Taking a jibe at Modi’s pet project ‘Make In India’, he said, “We are even importing candles from China. India is losing major share in business because of China. Stop imports from China, it will give boost to local traders.” 

In equal measure, the RLD leader hit out at UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, criticising him for his farmer’s policy.

“Akhilesh said the mill owners are facing difficult times. He waived their interests/loans. Altogether Rs 1,200 crore were waived because he felt the pain of the mill owners.

But he failed to realise the pain of the farmers despite orders from the Supreme court and the High Court,” he said.

He announced that RLD, led by Jayant Chaudhary, will stage a demonstration in Lucknow on October 13 on the issue of dues of payments to sugarcane farmers.