‘Trying to create strong Oppn... in talks with SP’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to repeal the farm laws will help the Opposition in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD)’s Jayant Chaudhary said in an interview to Sunetra Choudhury, adding that his party was in talks with the Samajwadi Party over creating a strong Opposition platform. Edited excerpts.

How do you respond to the decision to repeal the farm laws?

It is a good development for the farming community. They have shown a lot of courage by asking some hard questions to the government throughout the last one year in a very disciplined and sustained agitation. So, it does send a message to the farmers that in a democracy they are entitled to agitate.

Will it help the Opposition electorally and will they come together to reap the benefits?

We were working on creating a viable alternative to the BJP and a strong opposition platform. We will go forward in that direction.

BJP will now try and spin it .... Now, when the laws are not there, they are saying it is a win for BJP. They have had to submit to popular opinion. Within the opposition, Samajwadi Party has a credible base across the state. We are in conversation with them.

What do you think the impact of the repeal will be? important for the nation’s politics. They will send a message for what is to come in 2024 (national polls) and of course we are talking about India’s largest state . ... our nation’s trajectory is decided by the voters of Uttar Pradesh. The message has reached people that somewhere BJP’s thinking was wrong.

Do you think the move will help the BJP regain the lost ground?

It will actually help us. This is a hard-fought win and I think today all those who were associated with the agitation feel vindicated. It is going to aid us, not them.