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Nitish Kumar’s party Janata Dal United (JDU) has sounded the election bugle in Uttar Pradesh. JDU has staked claim on 25 seats in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Party Uttar Pradesh in-charge and Bihar government minister Shravan Kumar made it clear that JDU wants to enter the fray only as a component of NDA. JDU, which has suffered the brunt of fighting alone in the North East, now wants coordination with BJP.

In Patna, Minister Shravan Kumar said that the party is serious about fielding candidates in Uttar Pradesh. He said that we are part of NDA at the national level. Earlier JDU fought alone in many states but now there is better coordination in NDA than before. He said that NDA in Bihar has seen the leadership of Nitish Kumar for a long time. Now as national president, Nitish wants to take the party to a bigger platform. A positive signal is awaited from BJP for this.

After Punjab, eye on Uttar Pradesh

JDU had suffered losses by contesting elections alone in North East. Now the party strategy is changing. After Punjab, focus has been on Uttar Pradesh. Shravan Kumar admitted that it would not be easy to fight alone in Uttar Pradesh. Therefore the party wants seat sharing with BJP. The list of 25 seats is ready. JDU has a special eye on the seats of Purvanchal adjacent to Bihar.

What do experts say?

Political experts believe that BSP may suffer the most due to JDU’s entry in Uttar Pradesh. Sunil Kumar Sinha, President of Chanakya Institute of Political Rights and Research, says, JDU has a hold on backward, extremely backward and minority voters in Bihar. Mayawati has a major share in Uttar Pradesh. According to Sinha, some voters of Samajwadi Party may also be affected. However, JDU will have to work hard in big cities like Prayagraj, Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Aligarh. At present its identity is limited only to the areas adjacent to Bihar.

Experts say that if JDU has to make an impact in Uttar Pradesh, it will have to get on the ground from now on. The seat will not be won by relying only on NDA. The organization will have to be strengthened. Nitish Kumar’s name is popular in Purvanchal but JDU will have to create its identity in Western Uttar Pradesh. Large scale publicity and worker conferences will have to be organised. Only then will the claim of contesting on 25 seats be strengthened.

JDU waits for BJP’s stance

At present the ball is in BJP’s court. JDU has staked claim on 25 seats but the final decision on seat sharing has to be taken by BJP. In the 2017 and 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections, JDU had fielded candidates on some seats, but was not successful. This time the party wants to fight by remaining in NDA so that votes are not divided.