RLD’s Jayant confirms BJP tie-up, but nothing official yet

NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Choudhary on Monday said he has decided to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections even though both sides have not made any formal announcement of tie-up. Jayant Singh said the decision to go with the NDA was taken after consultations with party MLAs and workers. The RLD chief claimed that the move was not pre-planned and they were forced to take a decision in short time due to the circumstances.
Jayant had already dropped strong hints of joining hands with the BJP on February 9 after the Centre conferred Bharat Ratna to his grandfather Chaudhary Charan Singh following which he had heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Stating that PM Modi had won the hearts of all the followers of Choudhary Charan Singh, Jayant had said “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a decision which no other government in the past could take. This great honour to Choudhary Charan Singh has become possible due to the vision and efforts of Prime Minister Modi. I thank him.”
The RLD chief had also welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement with a ‘Dil Jeet Liya’ post on X.
Later, when asked about the possibility of him joining hands with the BJP, he had said: “How can I say no to your question today.”

This marks the exit of yet another party from the opposition’s INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc. For the last five years, RLD had an alliance with the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. In fact, the RLD and the SP had already announced a tie-up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections also. However, days after endorsing the SP seat-sharing announcement, Jayant Choudhary has made it clear that he is walking out though a formal announcement is yet to be made.