PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah absent from 2 west UP seats in new ally RLD's kitty

LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah have notably been absent from the campaign trail in Baghpat, one of the two Lok Sabha seats contested by BJP ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in western Uttar Pradesh. Baghpat, historically significant as the stronghold of former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, recently awarded the Bharat Ratna, will vote on Friday.
Both had also bypassed Bijnor, the other constituency contested by RLD, which voted in the first phase.Despite this, BJP has tasked CM Yogi Adityanath with energising the electoral atmosphere in both seats, with Yogi to campaign in Baghpat on Tuesday. A political expert said, "Not surprisingly, the development has raised much curiosity amongst BJP allies even as they spruce up to take on an assertive opposition in UP." Experts suggest that Modi and Shah have frequently referenced Charan Singh, whose Bharat Ratna award reportedly influenced RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary's decision to ally with the BJP-led NDA. "It's noteworthy that for the first time since 1977, no candidate from the Charan Singh family is contesting from Baghpat," the analyst further said.
Despite these developments, RLD spokesperson Anil Dubey remains optimistic, citing strong support for the BJP-RLD alliance across western UP. Sources also indicate Modi's planned inauguration of a statue of Ajit Singh in Chhaprauli, a stronghold of RLD, postponed amid escalating campaign activities for the elections.