In a development that signals realignment of political forces in Uttar Pradesh, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh on Wednesday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, as his party pulled out of the Bahujan Samaj Party-Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in the state
There was no official word from either side as to what transpired at the meeting, but Singh was understood to have sought Gandhi's support in toppling the Mayawati government.
The meeting assumed significance as it came close on the heels of Singh quitting the Union Cabinet.
Singh was returned to the Lok Sabha in 1999 under an alliance his party had with the Congress, but later severed ties to join the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cabinet.
In Lucknow, five RLD ministers in the Mayawati government quit, setting the stage for the withdrawal of support by the party to the ruling coalition. The RLD has 14 MLAs in the 403-member assembly.
Meanwhile, Anuradha Chaudhary, one of the five RLD ministers who resigned, said the party and its legislative wing had authorised the party chief to decide the course of action.
She said the party was fully united under the leadership of Ajit Singh.
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