AJIT SINGH’S THEATRICS TO RETAIN DELHI BUNGALOW

From Pradeep Kapoor

LUCKNOW: In the name of memorial for late Prime Minister Charan Singh, various political parties are coming together to face the challenge from BJP in Uttar Pradesh.

Much significance is being attached to Meerut rally on October 12 when Samajwadi party national president Mulayam Singh Yadav and his chief minister son Akhilesh Yadav and JD President Sharad Yadav could share same platform.

RLD leader and grandson of late Prime Minister Charan Singh, Ajit Singh, recently visited state capital and held long discussion with chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and extended invitation to him and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav to attended Meerut rally.

The political analysts feel that in the name of demanding memorial for Charan Singh, various farmer leaders, and all those who at one time worked with Charan Singh, are coming together.

It may be mentioned here that RLD is insisting that bungalow occupied by Ajit Singh and Charan Singh should be declared as memorial for Charan Singh who had been kisan leader.

RLD leaders, workers and farmers held demonstration in western UP and New Delhi to mount pressure on the BJP government at the centre to declare the bungalow a memorial.

The demand for setting up the memorial came only after BJP government asked Charan Singh’s son and RLD leader Ajit Singh to vacate the bungalow as he had been defeated in the Lok Sabha polls from Baghpat constituency.

In order to retain the bungalow the demand for setting up the memorial in the name of Charan Singh surfaced for the first time. People wonder why when Ajit Singh was part of central government then he could not have influenced it to achieve similar ends.

But the recent move of RLD leader Ajit Singh and his son Jayant Choudhry to seek support from Samajwadi Party, Congress, JD (U) is viewed as desperate move of RLD to regain its support base in Jat community which shifted to BJP in Lok Sabha polls.

It may be mentioned here that there was complete communal polarisation in western UP after series of communal riots last year and Jat community deserted RLD and voted for BJP.

Although Samajwadi Party did well in recently concluded by-polls when party won eight out of 11 assembly seats that went to polls, there was also a realisation that Samajwadi Party had no base in western UP.

There is a section in Congress Party which feels that it would be very difficult for the party to take on BJP on its own: so there was a felt need for broad understanding with left parties and Samajwadi Party.

SP has already declared its support for the memorial as well as is clamouring for a Bharat Ratna award for late Prime Minister Charan Singh.

Political analysts feel that the three-day national convention of Samajwadi Party in Lucknow from October 8 will discuss the issue formation of pressure group if likeminded parties join hands to take on challenge from BJP and BSP. Going by the past experience, the possibility of BSP and BJP coming together cannot be ruled in future.

Prominent political observer Surendra Rajput says that BSP is facing the worst ever crisis after the demise of founder Kansiram as Mayawati has failed to transfer her party votes to desired independents in recently concluded by-polls for 11 assembly and one Lok Sabha seats. BSP is also ready to surrender before BJP as a large number of Dalits shifted to saffron party during Lok Sabha polls. As a result, the BSP failed to open its account in Lok Sabha polls.

Under these circumstances, the Meerut rally of October 12 assumes great importance as it could pave way for regrouping of various political parties in UP where BJP swept the polls by taking 73 seats out of total 80 Lok Sabha seats. (IPA Service)