Uncertainty shrouds RLD's future in INDIA, political circles abuzz dunstad He ndonotando nali

Uncertainty over the fate of opposition INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh continued on Wednesday, with speculation that its key constituent Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) may walk away from the alliance ahead of the general elections gaining steam due to party chief Jayant Chaudhary's studied silence on the matter and cryptic comments from ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.

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The Samajwadi Party (SP), the senior partner in the opposition bloc in Uttar Pradesh, the state that sends maximum 80 lawmakers to the 543-member Lok Sabha, however, sounded confident that the RLD will remain with the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) and accused the BJP of "creating confusion".

Last month, the RLD and the SP had announced their alliance for the general polls, with Chaudhary's party saying the latter will leave seven seats in western UP for its nominees. Since then, the political circle in the state was abuzz with speculation that the RLD chief was not very pleased with the seat-sharing arrangement. The continued silence of Chaudhary, a prominent Jat leader with considerable sway in western UP, has only fuelled the rumours.