New Delhi: Janata Dal United (JDU) parliamentary board national president Upendra Kushwaha has said that his party will definitely contest the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections next year whether it be in alliance with the BJP or not.
“We are setting up our organisation in every district,” Kushwaha told reporters here. “A large number of people are also joining our party in UP. We are making up our mind to fight on selected seats. Once upon a time, JDU had a good support base in UP.”
He said that JDU is engaged in strengthening itself in Uttar Pradesh.
“We want to fight the UP elections in alliance with the BJP,” he stated. “If there is an alliance with BJP, then we will decide in how many seats we will fight. If there is no alliance with the BJP, then we will contest the elections alone.”
Kushwaha said that efforts are on for the JDU to fight the elections by staying within the NDA and was of the opinion that if the NDA fought the elections unitedly, it will give a “great performance”.
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“Talks are going on with BJP for an alliance but no way has been found so far.” he said. “(Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar will also hold rallies in UP. He said that JDU is expanding its organisation across the country, so it is very important to establish the organization in UP. We are trying in that direction and the work continues.”
It may be mentioned that the JDU is demanding about two dozen seats from BJP in the Uttar Pradesh elections. The top leadership of JDU is in touch with the top leadership of BJP and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath. But the BJP is not in the mood to give so many seats to the JDU at the moment. There is a possibility that BJP can give eight to 10 seats to JDU in Uttar Pradesh, but the big question is: will JDU agree to such a small number of seats?
In Uttar Pradesh, JDU is eyeing the Kurmi community, who are currently the traditional voters of the BJP. If JDU contests the elections alone, it may dent BJP's vote bank. The Kurmi community plays a decisive role in about three dozen assembly seats in the state. Nitish Kumar himself comes from the Kurmi community. The Kurmi-Kushwahas are strengthening the equation. That is why, Upendra Kushwaha returned to JDU and he was given a big responsibility.
Umesh Kushwaha has been made the president of Bihar JDU. Kurmi Kushwaha comprises 8 percent of the voters in Uttar Pradesh. If the JDU contests alone, a large number of Kurmi Kushwaha voters can go with it, which will directly harm the BJP.
