By Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: Opposition parties are facing the real test of seat sharing in Uttar Pradesh to take on BJP for crucial 80 Lok Sabha seats in 2024 polls.
The re-entry of Rahul Gandhi to Lok Sabha following Supreme Court order has boosted the morale of the Congress in the state as also opposition in general.
Samajwadi national President Akhilesh Yadav welcomed the order which gave relief to Rahul Gandhi and launched attack on BJP.
Similarly RLD President Jayant Choudhry also welcomed the restoration of Rahul Gandhi as MP and launched blistering attack on BJP.
There are reports that during second phase of Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav and RLD President Jayant Choudhry will accompany Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh.
Since Samajwadi Party and RLD are active within recently formed opposition alliance INDIA, it would be difficult task to arrive at seat sharing between the INDIA constituents..
RLD state President Ram Asheesh Rai has already staked claim over 12 Lok Sabha seats in Western UP having dominance of powerful jat backward community.
Releasing the list the state President Ram Asheesh Rai said that party workers were working very hard in these 12 Lok Sabha constituencies. He however said that during last assembly polls, the party suffered as it got very less seats in adjustment with Samajwadi Party.
The seats claimed by RLD include Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnore, Nageena, Bullandshar, Amroha, Meerut, Aligarh, Hathras, Fatehpur Sikri, Mathura and Baghpat.
RLD President is also more keen for seat sharing with Samajwadi Party, Congress and Azad Party of Chandra Shekar Ravan.
Although Samajwadi Party contested last two elections in alliance with RLD but it would be difficult for Akhilesh Yadav to leave so many seats for Congress, RLD and others.
Akhilesh Yadav got big jolt when BSP increased the tally from nil to 10 in 2019 Lok Sabha polls and Samajwadi Party could retain only five seats.. Out these five seats, Samajwadi Party lost two seats one in Azamgarh and another in Rampur to BJP reducing the tally to only three. In the present Lok Sabha.
Since Samajwadi Party is main opposition party with 111 seats in UP Assembly, Akhilesh Yadav would like to contest maximum number of seats to play aa major role at the centre.
With the success of Congress in Karnataka and massive response to Bharat Jodo Yatra during first phase, many muslim community members are looking towards Congress again in UP..
Under these circumstances, the seat sharing would be the real test for Akhilesh Yadav, Jayant Choudhry and Congress leadership.(IPA Service)