RLD to fight Lok Sabha elections with UPA, says Ajit Singh

NEW DELHI: RLD has no plans at present to go with the NDA in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and feels that the elevation of Narendra Modi in the BJP set-up would "immensely polarise" the voters.

"2014 election is still quite far. The Rashtriya Lok Dal will remain with the UPA in 2014 and fight the polls with the Congress-led alliance. As of now, we have no plans to go with the NDA," party chief Ajit Singh told PTI.

Singh said Modi's appointment as campaign committee chairman "will polarise the voters immensely and minorities will go with the Congress.

"Since RLD has presence in minority-dominated areas like Meerut, Baghpat and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, it will be greatly benefited from Modi's elevation as minorities will vote for us."

The RLD has five MPs in the 15th Lok Sabha. The Civil Aviation Minister said his party was looking for increased share of votes in Uttar Pradesh as people will not support SP, BSP for their current and past misrule.

Asked about the recent developments involving senior BJP leader L K Advani, Singh said Advani was one of the senior- most leaders but one "has to see how much votes Modi can bring" for BJP.

"It is an internal matter of BJP. But we will have to see how much votes Modi gets for BJP. Because there is anti-Modi votes also," he said.