Apna Dal (K) set to join NDA after ending alliance with SP

Lucknow, March 22 (IANS) The Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) leader, Pallavi Patel, expressed readiness to ally with the BJP-led NDA, following the party’s decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls independently. The announcement came after snapping ties with the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Thursday.

The Apna Dal (K) revealed its plan to contest from Mirzapur, Phulpur, and Kaushambi Lok Sabha seats. Notably, the sitting MP from Mirzapur is Pallavi Patel’s sister and Union Minister, Anupriya Patel, who leads the Apna Dal (Sonelal).

Pallavi Patel mentioned, “There are no talks with the NDA right now. If an offer comes then our organization will consider it,” addressing reporters on Friday. The statement follows SP President Akhilesh Yadav’s remarks on the alliance’s duration, emphasizing it was for the 2022 Assembly polls, not the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Dismissing Yadav’s comments, Patel asserted, “Akhilesh Yadav is confused, all PDA (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) votes are not his. He has only 35 per cent votes with him. If there is an alliance then we should have talked about it.” Patel had previously won the 2022 Assembly elections on the SP symbol from Sirathu, defeating Deputy Chief Minister, Keshav Maurya.

The electoral dynamics in Uttar Pradesh continue to evolve as political parties strategize for the upcoming polls. The Apna Dal (K) leader’s openness to a potential NDA alliance adds a new dimension to the state’s political landscape. The decision-making process within the NDA and the potential implications of such a partnership remain subjects of keen interest as the election season unfolds.