"Massive Misuse Done By Ruling Govt.," Says: RLD Chief Jayant

Mr. Chaudhary joined hands with SP, slams BJP.

New Delhi: Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh election polls, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary has raised concerns over what he claimed is the blurring of lines between the state and party, he said can't be the same, hinting at the BJP's rule in Uttar Pradesh.

In an interview conducted by the NDTV today, the RLD Chief Chaudhary said: "There is massive misuse being done by the government. Teachers are being made to attend rallies and being sent by the bus-loads. I am told there is going to be massive misuse of the postal ballot this time. People must be made aware of this."

The 43 years old, Jayant also added, "Jawans have told me, too, that they have been made to vote under the supervision of their seniors. This is going to happen again."

Looking into the fierce jibes within the ruling parties and rivals, Bharatiya Janta Party is set to go for a fresh strategy to consolidate the crucial Jat vote in western UP, which had propelled it to power in the last three elections -- to national and one in the state.

Despite this, Mr. Chaudhary's RLD has partnered with former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party this time.

Taking notes from one year survey, the Jats had turned against the BJP following a long protest over the now-withdrawn controversial farm laws. Now, more than ever, they are rallying behind the RLD leader.

There was a shift in the mood of farmers when their leader, Rakesh Tikait, got emotional and started crying during the anti-farm laws protest, he stated.

"That moved people, that moved us all - my father, me, the community at large. That is a defining moment. We may bicker or fight among ourselves, but we all come together in such times," he said. "I have made a very informed decision to ally with the Samajwadi Party and I am going to stick to this," he added.

The BJP is hoping to capitalise on recent troubles within the RLD and counting on the party to consider a realignment.

Over the last weeks, Jats in the Meerut belt have been hugely upset over some of the seats going to Samajwadi Party candidates. Protests have been loud in Siwalkhas, Sardhana and Hastinapur over the last weeks as lists of alliance candidates were announced. Similar trouble is brewing in Muzaffarnagar, where the alliance has decided against fielding Muslims to keep the Muslim vote intact. The area had around 40 per cent Muslim population.