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Tag: Jayant Chaudhary

  • Comparing Charan Singh’s legacy to ‘small election’ of 2024 belittles him: Jayant Chaudhary

    To compare the legacy of Chaudhary Charan Singh with a “small election” of 2024 is belittling him, Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary said, refusing to spill beans over the said “deal” between his party and the BJP. He was asked about speculations of the RLD joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and switching over from the INDIA bloc after Bharat Ratna was announced for his grandfather.

    “If you compare a small election of 2024 with the great legacy of Chaudhary Charan Singh, you are belittling him and insulting his supporters. It is an insult to an honour like Bharat Ratna,” Chaudhary said.

    Asked about the allegations of a “deal” between RLD and BJP, he said, “The process of deciding on Bharat Ratna is a pious process. The government takes decisions in the interest of the nation, keeping in mind people’s sentiment… 37 years after his death, a government thought of honouring him. If they are seeing something wrong with this and if they think there is a transaction, it shows their ideological decline.” Asked what went wrong with the Samajwadi Party, he said it is an “internal matter”, adding that he will explain later why he changed his stand.

    “Those are internal matters, based on trust. Whatever discussions took place between me and Akhilesh ji, I will not discuss it outside… When our alliance is decided and announced, I will be able to tell why I changed my stand and the way ahead,” he said.

    On his earlier remarks that he will not “flip like a coin”, Singh said there should be an “expiry date” to remarks. “This used to happen earlier as well, but earlier the records were not available all the time. In the times of internet, you can also see my statements from 20 years ago when I fought with the support of the BJP and became an MP from Mathura. There is an expiry date to statements, something was said during poll campaign… Amit Shah had said something about me, I said something to keep my people together. I did not intend to insult him, nor did he take it personally. Otherwise, would Chaudhary sahab get a Bharat Ratna?” he said. “I am responsible for Lok Dal. My responsibility is to see how I can do better for my people and how I can help farmers. I will take a decision based on that,” he added.

    The remarks come amid speculations of the RLD joining BJP-led NDA ahead of the general elections.

    Singh on Saturday praised the Modi government for honouring his grandfather and former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh with Bharat Ratna.

    On Friday, after the announcement that Bharat Ratna will be conferred on Singh, Chaudhary had said “Dil jeet liya (They have won my heart)”.

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  • Eye On Mission 80 In Uttar Pradesh, BJP Seals Seat Deal With Jayant Chaudhary`s RLD; Check Power-Sharing Formula

    Jayant Chaudhary’s party will get two ministerial positions, one as a cabinet minister and the other as a minister of state with independent charge. 

  • Bharat Ratna For Rao, Charan Singh And Swaminathan: Modi’s Gesture To Woo South, UP Voters? |

    New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday announced that he has conferred the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour of India, to three eminent personalities: former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, and the father of the Green Revolution M.S. Swaminathan. The decision has triggered political interpretations, as all three names have been long demanded for the prestigious award. One of them is from North India, while the other two are from South India. Recently, Modi had also awarded the Bharat Ratna to L.K. Advani, a veteran BJP leader and a key figure in the Ram Mandir movement.

    Bharat Ratna For Congress’s Narasimha Rao

    PM Modi has decided to award Bharat Ratna to former PM Narasimha Rao. He was a towering leader of the Congress party and the father of economic reforms in India. The BJP leaders often criticized that Congress did not treat him well. It is also interesting that a few days ago, when the announcement was made to give the Bharat Ratna to Lal Krishna Advani, the biggest leader of the Ram Mandir movement and the founding member of the BJP, some people questioned the fact that it is their own government and they are honoring their own people, then what is the difference between Congress and BJP?

    Now, giving the country’s highest civilian award to a leader associated with the opposition party, Congress, can only be called Modi government’s masterstroke. This will send a message to the public and BJP will try to convey that Modi government does not do politics on awards but treats everyone equally. The announcement of the Lok Sabha elections is going to happen soon.

    In such a situation, the impact of this decision is certain. Rao was born in Warangal district of Telangana, which was then part of united Andhra Pradesh. He led the country at a time when India was stuck in the quagmire of poverty and unemployment. The situation of the country had become such that the country’s gold had to be mortgaged to repay the debt. The economy was paralyzed in the 1991 era.

    Rao’s Congress government brought economic reforms in the country. The country progressed on the path of progress by following the same economic policies. He also took India forward in the automobile sector. The way was cleared for many big companies to set up plants. The result was that in the next 2-3 years, the foreign exchange reserves increased by 15 times.

    Congress has always insisted that Rao laid the foundation for strengthening India’s economy in 1991. However, the Bharat Ratna is now being given by the BJP government. Telangana’s demand also fulfilled The Telangana Assembly had passed a resolution in December 2020 to give Rao the Bharat Ratna. He was also the chief minister of Andhra.

    In such a situation, by honoring Rao from the BJP government, the politics of both the southern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh can go in favor of the BJP. It is also possible that the BJP’s Mission-400 goal may be strengthened by the major party of the state joining the NDA.

    The connection between the three awardees lies in their contributions to the nation. The most surprising name is that of Narasimha Rao, a Congress leader who has often been accused by BJP leaders of being neglected by his own party. Rao was the Prime Minister of India during a critical period when the country was mired in poverty and unemployment.

    He had to mortgage the country’s gold to repay debts, and the economy was in a state of paralysis. Rao’s Congress government initiated economic reforms that paved the way for India’s progress. He also boosted India’s automobile sector by allowing foreign companies to set up plants.

    As a result, the foreign exchange reserves increased by 15 times in the next 2-3 years. Congress has always claimed that Rao laid the foundation for strengthening India’s economy. However, it is the BJP government that is giving him the Bharat Ratna now.

    Some critics had objected to Modi’s decision to award the Bharat Ratna to Advani, saying that it was a case of favouring his own party and allies. Now, by honouring a Congress leader, Modi has delivered a masterstroke. He has sent a message to the public and the BJP that his government does not politicise awards, but treats everyone equally. With the Lok Sabha elections approaching soon, this decision could have an impact on the voters.

    The other two awardees are also well-deserved. Chaudhary Charan Singh was the fifth Prime Minister of India and a prominent leader of the farmers. He is widely respected for his pro-farmer policies and his role in the land reforms. He is also the founder of the Lok Dal party, which later merged with other parties to form the Janata Dal. His son, Ajit Singh, is the chief of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, a regional party in Uttar Pradesh that has allied with the BJP in the past.

    M.S. Swaminathan is a renowned agricultural scientist and a Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan awardee. He is credited with leading the Green Revolution in India, which transformed the country from a food-deficit to a food-surplus nation.

    He has also made significant contributions to the fields of biodiversity, biotechnology, and sustainable development. He is the founder of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, which works for the welfare of farmers and rural communities.

    Modi’s decision to award the Bharat Ratna to these three personalities has also fulfilled the demands of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, two southern states where the BJP is trying to expand its base. The Telangana Assembly had passed a resolution in December 2020, requesting the Centre to confer the Bharat Ratna to Rao, who was born in Warangal district of the then united Andhra Pradesh.

    He was also the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. By honouring Rao, the BJP government could win the favour of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and strengthen its ally, the NDA, in the mission to achieve 400 seats in the Lok Sabha.

    Modi’s Masterstroke For West UP

    The BJP had a reason to worry about West UP, especially the Jat-dominated areas, due to the farmers’ protest and other factors. But that concern may have been largely resolved by the announcement of awarding the Bharat Ratna to former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh. He was a towering leader of the Jat community and the father of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) founder Ajit Singh.

    The RLD is now headed by his grandson Jayant Chaudhary. The decision to honor the grandfather came amid speculations that the grandson’s party RLD was leaving the opposition alliance and joining the BJP. It is likely that the deal was already sealed. The BJP may offer the RLD two seats in the Lok Sabha and one seat in the Rajya Sabha.

    Jayant Chaudhary’s tweet today also hinted at this possibility. He wrote on social media after his grandfather Charan Singh got the Bharat Ratna – You won my heart. It is clear that this could have a similar impact as in Bihar.

    PM Modi highlighted the point that would resonate with this decision while sharing the picture of Chaudhary Charan Singh today. He wrote that this honor is a tribute to his unmatched contribution to the nation. He dedicated his whole life to the rights and welfare of the farmers. He served as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, the home minister of the country, and a parliamentarian, and always propelled the nation-building process. He also stood firm against the Emergency.

    His devotion to our farmer brothers and sisters and his commitment to democracy during the Emergency are inspiring for the entire nation. It is evident that with this decision, the Modi government will present itself as a government that gives priority to the farmers. Charan Singh was also the first non-Congress CM of UP after breaking away from the Congress. There was a long-standing demand to give him the Bharat Ratna. He is remembered as the ‘messiah of the farmers’. It is likely that the BJP will win the hearts of the entire Jatland.

    Swaminathan: The Man Behind Green Revolution

    He may be less known to today’s generation, but Dr. M.S. Swaminathan’s contribution to the agricultural sector is immense. He strengthened agricultural education and research. He believed that the improved varieties of crops would not only benefit the farmers but also solve the food crisis. He was born in Tamil Nadu. He witnessed the Bengal famine and decided to dedicate his life to the improvement of the country’s agricultural sector. He received a special recognition for the Green Revolution. This increased the crop production. In the 1960s and 70s, he introduced high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice. India became self-reliant in food production as a result. He passed away a few months ago.

    Thus, the Modi government has given the Bharat Ratna to two legends associated with the agricultural sector. Chaudhary Charan Singh is a big name from the north, while Dr. Swaminathan is from the south. Another interesting thing is that there was a long-standing demand to give the Bharat Ratna to Swaminathan, the leader of the Green Revolution. Now, even without intending to, the parties of Tamil Nadu will have to appreciate the BJP government’s decision and it may also have an impact on the public.

  • Debates on Gyanvapi, similar issues should have no place in modern India: RLD chief

    Chaudhary, who will be filing his nomination on Monday, remained tight-lipped on whether he was upset with the apparent delay by the SP in announcing his name for the Rajya Sabha polls.

  • I don’t want to be Hema Malini, says Jayant Chaudhury after Amit Shah’s invite

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Stocking a controversy by bringing the name of BJP MP and famous Bollywood actor Hema Malini into poll discourse, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary claimed that his party leader Yogesh Chaudhury was wooed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying he would make him stars like Malini if he joined the party.

    Jayant Chaudhary, who had rejected the BJP overtures last week, made the comments while campaigning in Mathura on Tuesday.

    Referring to his party leader on stage with him, Chaudhary said, “Yogesh was saying he was told by Shah that, “Yogesh, join us. I will make you like Hema Malini.”

    His audience laughed and clapped at his reference to the actor-politician who is a BJP MP from Mathura. “I don’t know what all they keep saying about me. It is not that they have any love or feeling for me. I tell them — What will you get by pleasing me? I don’t want to be Hema Malini. What will you do for the people? What have you done for the families of 700 farmers who died during protests? Why is Teni still a minister?,” the RLD leader said.

    RLD is in alliance with Samajwadi Party in the UP. The party has declared 33 RLD candidates across western UP. Jayant, who has not won any election since 2014, is believed to be having some traction among the Jat farmers’ community especially after the unrest over three contentious farm laws which the BJP repealed in November last year.

    Meanwhile, reacting to Jayant’s controversial statement, Union minister Anurag Thakur, who is also handling BJP’s Uttar Pradesh campaign, hit back at RLD chief saying that the actor-turned-Mathura MP was elected based on her capabilities, popularity and work.

    “Not once, but many times she was elected to the Parliament with the public’s blessings. It is true he cannot become Hema Malini. He does not have the people’s blessing,” Thakur said at a media briefing.

    Chaudhary lost the Mathura seat to Hema Malini in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. In 2019, he fought against Satya Pal Singh and lost from Baghpat. 

    Amit Shah, at a meeting with over 250 Jat leaders in Delhi on January 26, had sent feelers to Jayant saying he had gone into the wrong family and that the BJP doors would always be open for the RLD.

    “Akhilesh Yadav and Jayant Chaudhary are together only till counting. If their (Samajwadi) government is formed, then Azam Khan will sit (in their government) and Jayant Bhai will be out,” Shah had said later while addressing a poll rally.

  • ‘We’re sons of farmers, pact  IS rock solid’

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW:  Hitting the battleground in western UP, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav asserted on Friday that his alliance with Rashtriya Lok Dal was ‘rock solid’ following the BJP’s overture to his RLD counterpart Jayant Chaudhary.

    Flanked by Jayant, Akhilesh asserted that the alliance was very much together. “I want to convey to all those who had some misconception that we are together and our alliance is stronger,” he said to a query over the feeler from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Jayant two days ago.

    “One can understand their desperation. Look at their situation. They are inviting Jayant in the middle of elections,” Akhilesh said, mocking at Shah’s observation that the RLD chief was in a wrong family. Jayant has already ruled out any possibility of a post-poll alliance with the BJP. While rejecting the BJP’s offer, he said that instead of inviting him, the BJP should think of helping those 700 farmer families who lost their kin during the year-long agitation.

    Western UP’s 58 seats, including Muzaffarnagar, will go to polls in the first phase on February 10. The BJP is trying hard to hold the Jat vote given that the community supported it overwhelmingly since the 2014 general elections. It realises the anger among the Jat farmers over the contentious farm laws and the consequent unrest despite the Centre repealing the acts in November last year.

    In Muzaffarnagar, Akhilesh claimed that his alliance with Jayant should be known as the ‘sons of two farmers’. He was responding to a query over the analogy with his alliance with Rahul Gandhi in 2017 and they way it was known as ‘UP ke ladke’ (boys of UP).

    The SP chief, meanwhile, reiterated his promises including 300 units of free electricity to all, free electricity to farmers for irrigation, MSP for every crop, payment of arrears to cane growers in 15 days, a corpus fund for making the payments of cane growers, interest-free loans, insurance and restoration of old pension scheme. He also promised to continue the distribution of free laptop to students like in his previous rule. 

  • Be wary of BJP: Akhilesh to farmers; Jayant says SP-RLD tie-up ‘solid’

    By PTI

    MUZAFFARNAGAR/MEERUT: Appearing here with his ally RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday asked farmers to be wary of the BJP, saying the ruling party’s government had withdrawn its controversial farm laws only for the sake of votes.

    He also assured farmers that if their alliance forms the government in Uttar Pradesh, they will not allow the implementation of any such anti-farmer law in the state.

    Yadav made the statement addressing a joint press conference with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary, who on the occasion said his party’s alliance with the SP is “solid” and aimed at furthering the cause of farmers.

    Ahead of the Assembly polls, the BJP is reaching out to the Jats in western Uttar Pradesh, from where members of the community had taken part in the year-long stir against the laws at the Delhi’s border points.

    BJP leaders had also asked the RLD chief to join hands with their party after Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Jat leaders in Delhi on Wednesday.

    Lashing out at the BJP, Yadav said, “The BJP had promised to double the income of farmers but it brought the three anti-farmer laws. The farmers forced the government to repeal the laws. The BJP rolled back the laws for the sake of votes. The BJP is a party which brings laws without telling anything.”

    Yadav asserted that on coming to power, their party won’t implement any such law in the state and said he and Chaudhary are taking forward the cause of farmers championed by former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and the late farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait.

    Chaudhary said earlier people had doubts if the both parties would forge an alliance.

    “Our confluence had taken place much earlier. We want UP to develop and have forged the alliance as we want to take the fight of Chaudhary Charan Singh ahead,” he said remembering his grandfather.

    Yadav also said, “Both of us are sons of farmers and will continue to fight till the last breath for their rights.”

    The Samajwadi Party chief said they will make arrangements for the purchase of crops on the minimum support price.

    A corpus fund will be made so that farmers do not have to wait for the payment of sugarcane dues, Yadav said.

    The SP chief said they will give 300 units of electricity free to domestic consumers.

    The former chief minister also promised free electricity for irrigation purposes.

    He added that the SP will also give “Samajwadi pension”.

    “The BJP should now look back at its election manifesto and see whether the promises it made have been fulfilled or not.

    When the BJP declines, it attempts to divert the attention from the basic issues,” he said.

    “I am hopeful that the Ganga-Jamuni ‘tehzeeb’ (culture) and brotherhood will negate the negative thought process in this election,” he said.

    The SP chief said this time the BJP will face a “political exodus”.

    “Have you not seen what type of exodus our Baba CM (Yogi Adityanath) has to make. He was seeking ticket from Ayodhya, Mathura or Prayagraj. The BJP sent him back home,” he said referring the CM’s candidature from Gorakhpur Urban, the area which he had represented in Parliament earlier.

    Later speaking to reporters in Meerut, Akhilesh reiterated that Chaudhary Charan Singh should be awarded the Bharat Ratna.

    “Jayant Chaudharyji and I will remove the politics of negativity and we will fight to save our Ganga-Jamuni ‘tehzeeb’ (culture) and brotherhood,” Yadav said.

    Yadav had reached Muzaffarnagar late for the press conference, claiming earlier in the day that he was stranded in Delhi as his helicopter was not allowed to take off.

    In a Hindi tweet, the SP president posted a picture with a helicopter in the background and said no reason was given for it.

    “My helicopter is still detained in Delhi without assigning any reason and not being allowed to go to Muzaffarnagar, whereas a top BJP leader has just flown from here.

    This is a desperate conspiracy of the losing BJP.

    People are understanding everything,” he said in his tweet.

  • ‘Doors are always open’: BJP offers ‘friendship’ to Jayant Chaudhary as it reaches out to Jat leaders

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary has chosen the “wrong home”, Union Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday as he reached out to Jat leaders at a meeting here ahead of the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh and the BJP suggested that its doors were open for the RLD leader.

    According to sources, while talking to Jat leaders from western Uttar Pradesh, Shah said the ideology of both the party and the community is the same as both keep national interest first and have been fighting against ”invaders”.

    The meeting held at the residence of BJP MP Parvesh Verma was also attended by the party’s prominent Jat leaders including Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan who is an MP from Muzaffarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh.

    Jats are a deciding factor in almost all the seats in western Uttar Pradesh, a region where the RLD enjoys influence among the community.

    The RLD, led by former prime minister Charan Singh’s grandson Jayant Chaudhary, has joined hands with Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party this time.

    “In the meeting, we have suggested that people of the Jat community talk to Jayant Chaudhary. Doors of the BJP are always open,” Verma later told reporters.

    The BJP’s outreach is significant as there are apprehensions that the over year-long farmers’ agitation against the three agri laws, which have since been repealed, will affect its prospects.

    However, the RLD leader gave a terse response.

    “Invite those +700 farmer families which you have destroyed, not me,” he tweeted in Hindi.

    Talking about RLD, Shah said at the meeting that Jayant Chaudhary “has chosen the wrong house”.

    Citing the various steps taken by the Modi government for the community, Shah said the it appointed three Jat governors and has nine Jat MPs.

    Expressing gratitude towards the community, Shah said the BJP got the community’s blessings due to which the party could win in 2014, 2017, 2019 elections.

    “With your support, I believe you will again make us win this election as well,” he said.

    Shah said the BJP government named a university in Aligarh in Jat king’s name, has constructed expressways and brought in Jewar airport for employment and prosperity in western Uttar Pradesh.

    Pagdi, a symbol of Jat pride, was tied on the head of Shah in the meeting.

    Balyan said that Jats would never prefer SP chief Akhilesh Yadav as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

    The developments came a day before Shah and several other top BJP leaders, including Union Minister Rajnath Singh, were scheduled to visit western Uttar Pradesh.

    Shah held similar meetings with leaders from the Jat community ahead of the 2017 assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

  • SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s wife, daughter test positive for Covid

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The entire poll campaign of the Samajwadi party has been put in jeopardy as Dimple Yadav, wife of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, and their younger daughter Tina, have tested positive for the deadly Covid-19 virus here on Wednesday.

    Akhilesh Yadav has been campaigning across UP for the assembly election, which is just a couple of months away. He is also likely to get himself tested. However, the development may now cast a shadow on the joint rally which Akhilesh had to address with Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary in Aligarh on Thursday.  

    At present, Akhilesh has been spearheading his party’s poll campaign by taking out Vijay Rath Yatra. Currently, the SP chief is leading the eighth leg of the yatra — from Mainpuri to Etah in central UP — which has been carved out of a Mercedes Benz bus equipped with five-star facilities.

    In a tweet, former SP MP from Kannauj, Dimple Yadav said: “I got a Covid test done, the report of which is positive. I am fully vaccinated and not showing any symptoms. For the safety of myself and others, I have isolated myself,” tweeted Dimple asking all those who might have come in her contact recently to get themselves tested as soon as possible. “All the people who have met me recently are requested to get their test done soon,” she said.

    However, it is not confirmed if the SP chief has got himself vaccinated or not. Initially, in January when the vaccination drive had commenced, he called the anti-COVID-19 vaccine that of the BJP and that he would not get it administered.

    Later, amending his stand following the sharp criticism, Akhilesh said that he would get vaccinated only after his father Mulayam Singh Yadav decided to get the jab. However, the SP patriarch has already received both doses of the vaccine.

    In another comment against the vaccination, Akhilesh had said that he would take the jab only if Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph was removed from vaccination certificates. He had also claimed that he was at least at risk of getting the infection again as he had already had COVID-19. “If the government puts a national flag on vaccine certificate, I will take it,” he had said.

  • Akhilesh Yadav and Jayant Chaudhary meet to discuss seat-sharing in Uttar Pradesh

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Akhilesh Yadav and Jayant Chaudhary virtually made it official on Tuesday that their parties, the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), respectively, had sealed the deal to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in alliance. 

    The two leaders met in Lucknow, apparently to discuss seat-sharing. They both later tweeted that they were moving together towards change. “Shri Jayant Chaudhary ji ke saath badlav ke ore (With Jayant Chaudhary for change,” the SP chief said in his twitter post. The RLD leader, too, posted a photograph of his meeting with Akhilesh and tweeted, “Badhte Kadam.”

    Speaking to this newspaper over phone, SP spokesperson Manoj Rai confirmed that alliance with RLD was finalised. “The details on seat-sharing would be announced after proper discussion,” he said. Sources, meanwhile, said the seat-sharing was also finalised and the announcement would be made soon.

    Sources from the RLD said the party expected to contest over 36 seats in western UP as it had a strong base here. The RLD had reportedly demanded 50 seats from the SP. The SP is learnt to have agreed to offer 30-36 seats of its choice in western UP to RLD.

    According to sources, the deal between the two parties was earlier stuck over Charthawal assembly seat in Muzaffarnagar district, with Akhilesh adamant to field SP candidate Harendra Malik from there. The sources said the RLD agreed for alliance after the SP dropped its claimed on Charthawal, from which Jayant himself is considering to contest. BJP’s Vijay Kumar Kushwaha was elected in 2017 from the seat.

    The RLD is believed to have consolidated its electoral base in western UP during the farmers’ agitation. “With its strong support among Jats, it can give a tougher fight to the BJP in western UP than the SP,” said a political observer.