The Rashtriya Lok Dal is looking for a new face to be appointed as the state unit president of the party.
The post fell vacant after the then RLD state chief Dr Masood Ahmad resigned, alleging that the party sold tickets to candidates, compromising on the winnability.
Earlier, RLD president Jayant Chaudhary had dissolved all frontal organisations of the party and the state unit to pave the way for appointment of new and fresh incumbents on different posts, including the state president.
On conditions of anonymity, a RLD leader said that the appointment of state president and other office-bearers would be decided at a meeting to be chaired by RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary on March 26.
"The RLD leadership is set to give preference to a new and young face as state head in order to mark the party's presence among the youths. In this reference, a young leader who recently joined the RLD and is presently working with the national team is a strong contender. The party brass is not doing any rapprochement exercise to mollify Masood Ahmad, who has leveled serious charges on the party and its ally Samajwadi Party," he said.
The leader further said, "The eight newly-elected MLAs of RLD may be the first choice of the party leadership. The party aims to strengthen the party base in west UP by giving the responsibility of state presidentship to an MLA," the leader said.
RLD sources claimed that some senior leaders of the party were also in the fray for the post of state unit chief. "The RLD is an alliance partner of Samajwadi Party which is the main opposition party in UP assembly and so the role of RLD is important. The leadership is deliberating on the face of the state president this time. The party brass is looking for one who has a clean image and has acceptability among all," party sources said.
Outgoing state RLD chief Dr Masood Ahmad has alleged that the party sold tickets in lieu of money while ignoring the merit of party candidates, which resulted in the party’s defeat despite farmers’ support to the RLD.