GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 4th April. Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary has taken a jibe at former ally Akhilesh Yadav amidst speculation surrounding the Samajwadi Party’s candidate shuffle for the Meerut Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh.
In a brief post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Chaudhary congratulated the “lucky ones in the opposition” who would have a brief opportunity to contest in the upcoming 2024 general election, hinting at the ongoing candidate changes within the SP.
This jab comes in light of talks suggesting that the SP could replace its second-choice candidate, Atul Pradhan, with a third-choice candidate, Sunita Verma, for the Meerut seat. The party’s initial pick, Bhanu Pratap Singh, was replaced following concerns raised by local leaders.
Akhilesh Yadav personally intervened in the candidate selection process, meeting with local leaders to address their concerns and subsequently initiating the second change.
The shuffle highlights the strategic considerations at play, with the SP now considering a Dalit candidate like Sunita Verma, given Meerut’s significant Dalit population.
The Meerut seat, traditionally held by the BJP for the past 15 years, is witnessing a competitive race with the BJP fielding actor Arun Govil, known for his portrayal of Lord Ram in the TV series Ramayana.
In a bid to strengthen its position in western UP, where it faced setbacks in 2019, the BJP has strategically aligned with Jayant Chaudhary’s RLD, which holds influence among Jats and farmers in the region.
The RLD’s formal alliance with the BJP, following its deal with Akhilesh Yadav, underscores the shifting political dynamics in UP ahead of the 2024 elections.
With UP being a crucial battleground state sending 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha, both the BJP and its allies are making calculated moves to maximize their electoral gains.
The RLD will contest two seats in UP, with candidates nominated in Bijnor and Baghpat, the latter being a stronghold of the Chaudhary family.
As the election dates draw closer, the political landscape in UP remains dynamic, with alliances and candidate selections playing a pivotal role in shaping the electoral outcomes.
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