UP Polls: Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly election, Samajwadi Party and Jayant Chaudhary-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) have taken sharp jibes at each other. What began with SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav's "chavanni" dig allegedly at Chaudhary has now involved two major caste groups of the western districts of the state- Jats and Gurjars. The two parties had contested the previous 2022 polls together, but the Jayant-led party later switched to the NDA.
Row Over Akhilesh Yadav's Remarks
Earlier, without taking the name of RLD president, Akhilesh Yadav had stated that the Samajwadi Party turned a "chavanni into rupees". His reference came from a speech delivered by Chaudhary in 2022, where he stated that he will not change alliance preferences, adding that he was not a "chavanni".
However, his party later extended its support to the NDA following the defeat of the SP-RLD alliance. The RLD leaders alleged that the Samajwadi chief had insulted the whole Jat community with his "irresponsible" comments on Chaudhary.
Jayant's 'Ganna' Jibe Sparks Row
The RLD recently held a public meeting in Saharanpur to address the issues of the region, but a controversy sparked after its spokesperson, Maluk Nagar, launched a sharp attack on SP state president Shyam Lal Pal, calling him "mentally retarded" and "worthless".
Apart from this, the Samajwadi Party leaders also alleged that Jayant Chaudhary had insulted the Gurjars community by not taking its name from the stage. Apart from this, the opposition party also stated that the RLD spokesperson had insulted the Pal and Baghel community by using harsh words against its state president.
Equation Of Western UP
The Jats, Gurjars, Pals, and Baghels form a decisive vote bank in the western districts of the state. The Jat community is considered a core voter base of the RLD and is likely to support the ruling alliance. The Samajwadi Party, considering this factor, is trying to lure in the voters of the Gurjar, Pal, and Baghel communities.