Rebellion seems to have hit Rashtriya lok Dal (RlD) after former Samajwadi Party leaders, Amar Singh and Jaya Prada joined the party.
The banner of revolt has been unfurled by Sanjay Singh Chauhan, the RlD lok Sabha member from Bijnore, who has been replaced by Jaya Prada as the party candidate. He came out openly against the senior party leadership and has even threatened to leave the party if Chaudhary Ajit Singh does not lend ears to his grievances.
“I am a sitting MP from Bijnore and I have been denied ticket. Chaudhary sahib told me to sacrifice this seat because Jaya Prada wanted to contest elections from there. He even said that she has both glamour and money,” Chauhan told The Pioneer from Bijnore.
Refusing to surrender like this Chauhan said that he had called a meeting of his supporters in Bijnore where the next course of action would be taken, he said. When asked whether he would leave the party he did not give a direct answer. “I do not rule out resignation but the final decision would be taken by the supporters,” Chauhan said.
Claiming to be from a humble background, he said he belonged to a political family. His father Chaudhary Narayan Singh was Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. “Yes, I do not have money like Amar Singh and Jaya Prada but I have a following. I have a good support base that I have nurtured with hard work. Therefore, whatever decision I take will be with consultation of people,” he said.
The RlD MP said Bijnore constituency had over two lakh Gurjars. “I am a Gujar and I won the last elections because they supported me. The BSP has fielded a Gurjar. The candidature of Jaya Prada has given an edge to BSP candidate,” he said.