Shahid Siddiqui, the National Vice President of Rashtriya Lok Dal, tendered his resignation from the party and its primary post, days after Jayant Chaudhary's decision to join hands with the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections.

Clarifying his stance on resignation, Shahid Siddiqui said, "when India's Constitution and democratic structure are in danger, remaining silent is a sin".

"Yesterday, I sent my resignation letter from the membership of Rashtriya Lok Dal and the post of National Vice President to National President Shri Jayant Singh. Today, when India's Constitution and democratic structure are in danger, remaining silent is a sin. I am grateful to Jayant ji but with a heavy heart, I am forced to distance myself from RLD. India's unity, integrity, development and brotherhood are dear to all. It is the responsibility and duty of every citizen to save it," Shahid Siddiqui wrote on X.

"Why I resigned now? Two reasons. I didn’t want to resign immediately as I welcomed the Bharat Ratna accorded to Chaudhry Charan Singh Ji. I didn’t want to be seen opposing it. Secondly, the attack on elected Chief Ministers and Opposition parties when elections have been announced is an attack on Indian Democracy & the great institutions that we have built," he wrote in another post.

The development comes days after Jayant Chaudhary's RLD joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Bharat Ratna for his grandfather Chaudhary Charan Singh.

The RLD will contest two Lok Sabha seats, Baghpat and Bijnor, and has also been promised a Rajya Sabha seat for the upcoming polls.

Jayant Chaudhary's RLD has pockets of influence in western Uttar Pradesh and the BJP will hope to gain in this region that is home to the influential Jat community.

Source: India Today