Is Akhilesh-Jayant experiment of poll alliance on the wane?

Lucknow: In the recently concluded assembly polls, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had forged an alliance with RLD under the assumption that Jayant Chaudhary’s support would prove to be a game changer for his camp’s victory. But this experiment of alliance did not meet the test of success. Since these election results, the spontaneity of the relationship between Akhilesh Yadav and Jayant Choudhary started showing a decline as compared to earlier.

In the backdrop of the developments after the election defeat, resentment flared up among many Muslim leaders associated with the SP. Strengthening the impression of a concerted move, Some SP leaders considered close to Azam Khan even tendered their resignations, citing Akhilesh’s alleged apathy towards Azam and the Muslim community. At a time when there was visible turmoil in the SP camp, its ally RLD chief Jayant Choudhary created a political stir by meeting jailed MLA Azam Khan’s wife Tanzeen Fatima and son Abdullah Khan at their Rampur residence on Wednesday.

Describing this important meeting as a courtesy call, Jayant refrained from speaking on questions related to Akhilesh Yadav. But Jayant fueled the speculations about the new alignment by pointing to the “new political axis” in UP. Interestingly, in response to a reporter’s question regarding this meeting, Akhilesh replied angrily, “You should ask Jayant ji. I don’t know. It is good he met them. But I didn’t send him.”

Arjun Chaudhary, a political expert, says that the RLD chief ’s meeting with Khan’s family was not a random incident. This was a well thought out step for future plans. Because the election challenges of 2024 are now in the focus of Jayant and it is evident from the results of the recently concluded elections that despite getting the support of SP, the party could not achieve the expected results. That’s why RLD is exploring new political possibilities.

Jayant’s close association with Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad is pointing in this direction. Both of them recently made a joint visit to a village in Rajasthan where a Dalit youth was murdered. With the unity of Jat-Dalit and Muslim voters, an effective political axis can emerge in western UP and nine terms MLA Azam Khan can play an influential role in this direction.

However, if sources are to be believed, Jayant Chaudhary will not take a hasty decision because elections are going to be held for Rajya Sabha seats soon and RLD will need the help of SP to get a seat.