Lucknow: Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) state president Ramashish Rai on Friday resigned from his post and the party’s primary membership, alleging that democratic values and constitutional institutions were under increasing strain in the country. RLD happens to be a constituent of the BJP-led NDA.In a resignation letter addressed to RLD national president and Union minister Jayant Chaudhary, Rai said he was stepping down due to ideological and moral concerns.“The way the students’ protest at Jantar Mantar was crushed disturbed me. And we as an ally of the BJP could not do anything,” Rai told TOI. He also alleged that corruption was at its peak, citing recent instances such as the poor construction quality of the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway.Rai did not spell out his next political move but said there was a need for a reformist movement in the country. Sources said that Rai has, of late, been keeping away from all party functions and meetings, signalling his discontent with the party brass.Interestingly, the development comes just over a fortnight after RLD appointed its national secretary Anupam Mishra as the working state president.Thanking the party leadership for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading the organisation in Uttar Pradesh, Rai said he had worked to strengthen the party through extensive tours, outreach to workers and organisational expansion.Tracing his political roots to the JP Movement of 1974-75, Rai said he had entered public life inspired by Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan’s call for Sampoorna Kranti (Total Revolution) against corruption, inflation, unemployment and the erosion of democratic institutions.“The dream of systemic change envisioned during the movement still appears incomplete,” Rai wrote, adding that democracy was increasingly being influenced by money power and dominant sections of society.He also expressed concern over what he described as growing social divisions along caste, sub-caste and communal lines. Rai said farmers continued to struggle for remunerative prices, while young people faced unemployment and uncertainty.Referring to the slogan “Jaati Todo, Samaj Jodo” (Break caste barriers, unite society), Rai said the country’s great leaders had emphasised social harmony and national unity. He alleged that some influential figures were now promoting social polarisation and caste-based mobilisation.Rai also referred to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying the BJP stalwart had once warned about the growing influence of money in politics and elections. He argued that ideological commitment was increasingly being replaced by economic power and dynastic politics, weakening democratic values.“Democracy today is under threat because of attacks on the Constitution, democratic principles and constitutional institutions. The nation is bigger than the party and the party is bigger than the individual,” he said.
