With two Lok Sabha MPs, a berth in the central council of ministers, and an influence in many districts of western Uttar Pradesh, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) is now looking at magnifying the influence of its founder Chaudhary Charan Singh and also expand the party footprint in key places of the country.

The party, aided by organisations that work in the area of farmers’ welfare, has initiated a dedicated year-long campaign to highlight and amplify the contributions of Mr Singh, a former prime minister and the first non-congress chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. He was known as a champion of peasants and was instrumental in bringing about policies to improve the lives and conditions of farmers.

Various units of the RLD will commemorate the 122nd birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, with a week-long celebration from December 17 to 23. This is also reflective of the party’s focus on bigger plans – expansion beyond the party’s western UP base among the Jat community.

The first of such commemorative events that centred around Chaudhary Charan Singh was held at Alwar on Monday, his birth anniversary. During the event, a statue of the late leader was unveiled. Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary and BJP leader and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav addressed the rally.

The party is working on another front – to not just establish and consolidate its position in Delhi but also have events in the capital centred around its leaders and icons that are seen as progressive and politically pertinent.

During the weekend, in a first, Chaudhary Charan Singh Awards were presented in a grand ceremony in Delhi, with an aim to celebrate the enduring legacy of Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of India.

Instituted by the Kisan Trust, the awards honour significant contributions to rural development, agriculture, and social welfare, sectors close to Chaudhary Charan Singh’s heart, a statement of the Trust said.

Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan was the chief guest at the event and he spoke about the “timeless relevance” of Chaudhary Charan Singh’s ideas.

“His legacy inspires those working for the upliftment of India’s farmers and rural communities. It is heartening to see the awardees taking forward the Kisan Messiah’s message,” he said.

Those honoured at the event include Neerja Chowdhury, an eminent journalist, who received the Kalam Ratna Award for her exceptional coverage of the 2024 general elections. Rajendra Singh, the Waterman of India, was honored with the Sewa Ratna award for his pioneering efforts in water conservation.

Firoz Hossain, an eminent maize scientist, received the Krishak Utthan Puraskar for groundbreaking agricultural research under the Kisan Ratna Puraskar category.

Pritam Singh, an exemplary farmer, was awarded the Kisan Award under the Kisan Ratna Puraskar category for his sustainable farming practices.

Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said it was important to preserve Chaudhary Charan Singh’s legacy. “The Chaudhary Charan Singh Awards are a tribute to his vision, recognizing individuals driving progress in agriculture, rural development, and journalism.”

A Chaudhary Charan Singh AI Hackathon was announced as an initiative to preserve and promote his writings and vision among younger generations. This is among the events that the RLD has been pushing to ensure the party, its work and its supporters get their space in the political realm of the capital.

With an office in the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi, the party also made a mark recently when the Ranga Pravesha ceremony of Jayant Chaudhary’s daughter, a Kuchipudi dancer, had many VIPs in the audience, including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

Bhupender Chaudhary, a close aide of Jayant Chaudhary, said the recipients of the awards were chosen by a jury of esteemed guests.

“Chaudhary Charan Singh was the principal architect of the UP Zamindari Abolition Act, and many other legislation that brought rights of farmers to the fore. RLD has always worked in the interest of farmers, and will continue to do the same in future. The awards are a recognition of the values that he stood for and honouring those who live by them,” Mr Chaudhary said.

While the RLD failed to make a strong mark from 2014 to 2022, even losing its traditional seats, the party managed to win nine of 33 seats in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly election which it contested in alliance with Samajwadi Party. But it broke up with Samajwadi Party and the Opposition INDIA bloc to join the BJP-led NDA months before the Lok Sabha elections, and it managed a good showing in the recent Lok Sabha polls winning the two seats it contested.

Those in the know said while expansion within UP, including seven districts of eastern and central UP is what the party is targeting as part of its plan, the party is also making moves to expand its footprint in Jat dominated areas of Rajasthan.

Sources said they are aligned with AJGR (Ahir, Jat, Gurjar, and Rajput) formula conceptualised by party founder Chaudhary Charan Singh but now also encompasses the larger attempt of social justice, with the inclusion of Dalits.

“We are looking at the D-MAJGR (Dalit, Muslim, Ahir, Jaat, Gurjar, and Rajput) formula. There is no overlap with the BJP, our ally here, it is only an addition of value,” a functionary said.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the contributions of those conferred the Bharat Ratna on Saturday by President Droupadi Murmu, paying rich tributes to former prime ministers P V Narasimha Rao and Charan Singh besides other luminaries.

“Every Indian cherishes what PV Narasimha Rao Garu has done for our nation and feels proud that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna. He worked extensively to further our country’s progress and modernization. He is also known as a respected scholar and thinker. His contributions will forever be cherished,” PM Modi said on X.

Every Indian cherishes what PV Narasimha Rao Garu has done for our nation and feels proud that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna. He worked extensively to further our country’s progress and modernization. He is also known as a respected scholar and thinker. His contributions… pic.twitter.com/gyZmXYTL0n

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 30, 2024

He said the Bharat Ratna for Mr Singh is a recognition of his contributions to India’s development, particularly in agriculture and rural development.

“I am sure this honour will inspire future generations to uphold the values of hard work, dedication and public service that he epitomized,” he said.

Chaudhary Charan Singh Ji’s Bharat Ratna is a recognition of his contributions to India’s development, particularly in agriculture and rural development. I am sure this honour will inspire future generations to uphold the values of hard work, dedication and public service that he… pic.twitter.com/ujx3naWMwX

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 30, 2024

The country’s highest civilian award for Karpoori Thakur is a fitting tribute to a stalwart who dedicated his life to social justice and equality, the prime minister said.

Known as a champion of the downtrodden, Mr Thakur’s contributions to the uplift of the marginalized and his relentless fight for the rights of the backward classes have left an indelible mark on the fabric of Indian society, he said.

“The Bharat Ratna to him highlights the values of inclusivity and compassion that are essential to the nation’s ethos,” he said.

The Bharat Ratna for Karpoori Thakur Ji is a fitting tribute to a stalwart who dedicated his life to social justice and equality. Known as a champion of the downtrodden, his contributions to the upliftment of the marginalized and his relentless fight for the rights of the… pic.twitter.com/DPcfloiOcH

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 30, 2024

Referring to agronomist M S Swaminathan, PM Modi described him as a revered figure in the world of agriculture who is widely admired for his pioneering work and research in the field of genetics and agricultural science.

He said, “His efforts propelled India from struggle to self-sufficiency in food production. May the Bharat Ratna conferred on him inspire more people to take up research in agriculture and food security.”

Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, a revered figure in the world of agriculture, is widely admired for his pioneering work and research in the field of genetics and agricultural science. His efforts propelled India from struggle to self-sufficiency in food production. May the Bharat Ratna… pic.twitter.com/GpaaMtjXA8

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 30, 2024

All the four stalwarts were bestowed the honour posthumously. Their family member received the honour for them.

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani is the only living person among the recipients of the honour this year. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)