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Raghuraj Pratap Singh, popularly known as Raja Bhaiya and the chief of Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik), declared his support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh. The move comes as a major setback for the Samajwadi Party (SP), adding a layer of intensity to the electoral battleground.
The Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for February 27 are poised to be a closely watched contest, with the BJP fielding eight candidates and the SP three for the 10 available seats. Raja Bhaiya’s announcement of support for the BJP further complicates the dynamics, given the two MLAs the Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) holds in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
Raja Bhaiya, who attended a meeting of NDA legislators at Lok Bhawan, divulged his decision to back the BJP. The meeting, presided over by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, discussed strategies for the upcoming polls. Interestingly, Raja Bhaiya’s support was sought by both the SP, with personal appeals from Akhilesh Yadav, and the BJP.
As a precursor to the Rajya Sabha polls, a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has been convened in Lucknow. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is set to lead the discussions on election strategy. Following the meeting, a dinner for NDA MLAs is planned, with Raja Bhaiya confirming his attendance.
With the BJP and SP having the required numbers to secure seven and three seats, respectively, the inclusion of Sanjay Seth as the eighth BJP candidate has added an element of competition. The results of the Rajya Sabha elections are slated to be announced on the same day as the voting, setting the stage for a politically consequential outcome in the state just ahead of the impending general elections.
