Before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2027, a political tussle has started between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) regarding seat sharing. Jayant Chaudhary's party RLD, which is part of the NDA, is staking claim on about 35 seats with the intention of increasing its political strength in the upcoming elections. At the same time, BJP is currently said to be in favor of giving it 10 to 12 seats. There is a big difference between the two parties regarding the number of seats. In such a situation, the round of talks within the alliance has intensified. The demand of RLD, which is considered important in terms of Jat and farmer votes in Western Uttar Pradesh, has posed a challenge to BJP to balance the seats.
According to sources, RLD wants to contest elections on more seats this time than in 2022. The party believes that it has its own support base in western UP and in many areas it can create a strong political base for BJP as well. On the basis of this strength, Jayant Choudhary's party is demanding about 35 seats. On the other hand, BJP is currently in favor of giving 10 to 12 seats to RLD. The party wants to make RLD's performance in the 2022 assembly elections and the seats won the basis of talks. BJP is trying to save enough seats for its candidates while keeping the allies together. This is the reason why it does not seem easy to reach an agreement on the number of seats between the two parties.
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'It is friendship, not marriage'
Amidst the discussion on seat sharing, the statement of RLD General Secretary Trilok Tyagi is also in discussion. On relations with BJP, he said, 'It is friendship, there is no marriage.' This statement is being seen in political circles as an indication of RLD's independent political identity and its bargaining on seats. Trilok Tyagi also reminded that RLD has formed an alliance with Congress four times and Samajwadi Party four times. This is also said to be the fourth political alliance of the party with BJP. It is clear from his statement that RLD wants to be cautious about its political ground and options even while being in alliance.
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Eye on seats outside western UP also
RLD's claim is not limited to western Uttar Pradesh only. There is talk that the party is expressing its desire to contest elections on seats like Basti, Prayagraj and a reserved seat in Bundelkhand along with Lucknow Cantt. Through this, RLD wants to expand the organization beyond its traditional areas of influence. However, final consensus has not been reached on these seats yet. The challenge before BJP is how to make space for allies without angering its existing MLAs and the contenders of the organization. At the same time, RLD wants to get such seats where its candidates are in a position to win.
RLD had contested on 33 seats in 2022
In the last assembly elections, RLD had contested in alliance with Samajwadi Party. The party had won 33 seats, out of which it had won eight. Later, RLD increased its numbers in the assembly by winning the by-election on Khatauli assembly seat. In 2022, RLD had won Thana Bhawan, Shamli, Budhana, Purkaji, Meerapur, Siwalkhas, Chhaprauli and Sadabad seats. Apart from this, the party had fielded its candidates in Western UP and many surrounding areas. This election performance is now becoming an important basis for RLD's claim in the seat sharing of 2027.
Election history will also become the basis of discussion
The electoral history of RLD has been full of ups and downs. In 2007, the party contested 254 seats alone and won 10 seats and got 3.70 percent votes. In 2012, it contested elections on 46 seats in alliance with Congress and won nine seats. In the 2017 assembly elections, RLD fielded candidates on 277 seats, but could win only Chhaprauli seat. In that election the party's vote percentage had come down to 1.78. After this, RLD made a comeback in 2022 with SP alliance and contested 33 seats and won eight seats. The party's vote percentage also increased to 2.85.
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The real test of the alliance before 2027
The 2027 elections are important for both BJP and RLD. BJP wants to keep its alliance strong in western UP, while Jayant Chaudhary's party is trying to increase its strength in the assembly by winning more seats. In such a situation, the distribution of seats has not only become a matter of numbers, but also a question of political influence and future share between the two parties. At present, negotiations are ongoing and no final agreement has been announced. Now it remains to be seen how much Jayant Chaudhary sticks to his demand of 35 seats and how much softness BJP shows in its stand of 10 to 12 seats. Only the consensus on seats will decide with which strategy the BJP-RLD alliance will enter the field in the 2027 elections.