:Rashtriya Loktantrik Party

{{Infobox Indian political party

|party_name = Rashtriya Loktantrik Party

|native_name=

|native_name_lang =

|abbreviation=RLP

|party_logo = 250px

|colorcode = {{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}}

|leader = Hanuman Beniwal

|president = Hanuman Beniwal

|secretary = Narayan Beniwal

|treasurer =

|spokesperson =

|foundation = 29 October 2018

|headquarters = Jaipur

|eci = State party

|alliance = I.N.D.I.A (2024-present)
NDA (2019-20)

|loksabha_seats = {{Composition bar|1|543|hex={{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}}}}

|rajyasabha_seats = {{Infobox political party/seats|0|245|hex=#C7B72C}}

|state_seats_name = Rajasthan Legislative Assembly

|state_seats = {{Infobox political party/seats|0|200|hex=#C7B72C}}

|ideology = Farmer’s upliftment
Regionalism

|position =

|publication =

|students =

|women =

|labour =

|peasants =

|website = https://rlpindia.org

|symbol = 100px

|predecessor =

|colours = {{Colorsample|#9ACD32}} Green {{Colorsample|#C7B72C}} Yellow

|flag =

|split =

}}

The Rashtriya Loktantrik Party ({{small|abbreviated as}} RLP; translation: National Democratic Party) is an Indian political party in the state of Rajasthan. It was founded by Hanuman Beniwal on 29 October 2018, on the eve of the 2018 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election with the aim of addressing the regional issues, particularly of the farmer community. {{Cite news|date=2018-10-29|title=Hanuman Beniwal floats new political party in Rajasthan|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/rajasthan-assembly-elections-2018/hanuman-beniwal-floats-new-political-party-in-rajasthan/article25363118.ece|access-date=2020-12-25|issn=0971-751X}}{{cite news |date=29 October 2018 |title=Ahead Of Rajasthan Polls, Former BJP Leader Launches New Party |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ahead-of-rajasthan-polls-former-bjp-leader-launches-new-party-1939566 |access-date=30 October 2018 |publisher=NDTV}}

History

Hanuman Beniwal was initially exposed to politics due to his family political background, as his father, Ramdev Beniwal, was elected to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. He then became president of the student union of the Rajasthan University which marked his step into the politics.

Hanuman Beniwal was elected to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly for first time in 2008 as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In 2013, Beniwal's persistent claims against prominent party leaders, such as Rajendra Rathore and Vasundhara Raje, led to his suspension from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to Beniwal, they were thoroughly corrupt, and there was a corrupt relationship between Raje and Ashok Gehlot, the chief minister at that time.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-07 |title=MLA Beniwal suspended from BJP {{!}} Jaipur News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/MLA-Beniwal-suspended-from-BJP/articleshow/11013998.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307061108/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/MLA-Beniwal-suspended-from-BJP/articleshow/11013998.cms |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-03-07 |access-date=2025-01-11 }} “ A day earlier, the party issued the first notice to Beniwal for repeatedly calling party colleague Rajendra Rathore and the leader of Opposition Vasundhara Raje as "thoroughly corrupt". He even criticised senior BJP leader LK Advani and alleged that there existed a 'nexus of corruption' between Raje and chief minister Ashok Gehlot. Beniwal made the accusations at a public function at the city's Maharaja's College on Saturday.”

Hanuman Beniwal successfully organised five Kisan Hunkar Maha Rallies in Nagaur, Barmer, Bikaner, Sikar, Jaipur and this rally aimed at addressing the grievances of farmers in Rajasthan and the focused on issues such as loan waivers, fair prices for crops and better irrigation facilities for farmers of Rajasthan and launched a political party called Rashtriya Loktantrik Party with an election symbol of "Bottle" in Jaipur on 29 October 2018. The Kisan Hunkar rally was supported by some political leaders such as, Ghanshyam Tiwari, Jayant Chaudhary and Sanjay Lathar.{{Cite news |last=Iqbal |first=Mohammed |date=2018-10-16 |title=Preparations in full swing for 'Kisan Hunkar Rally' in Jaipur |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/preparations-in-full-swing-for-kisan-hunkar-rally-in-jaipur/article25242494.ece |access-date=2025-01-11 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite news |date=2018-10-10 |title=जयपुर में 29 को होगी किसान हुंकार महारैली, विधायक हनुमान बेनीवाल करेंगे नई पार्टी का ऐलान - Jaipur News |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/hanuman-beniwal-will-announce-the-new-party-hunkar-kisan-maharali-jaipur-0906477.html/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241206000339/https://www.bhaskar.com/hanuman-beniwal-will-announce-the-new-party-hunkar-kisan-maharali-jaipur-0906477.html |archive-date=2024-12-06 |access-date=2025-01-11 |work=Dainik Bhaskar |language=hi}}

RLP party received support from the farmer community,{{Cite news |last=Iqbal |first=Mohammed |date=2020-11-30 |title=NDA constituent RLP threatens to quit alliance over farm laws |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/nda-constituent-rlp-threatens-to-quit-alliance-over-farm-laws/article33216288.ece |access-date=2020-12-25 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} and was able to have its representatives elected on three seats of the Rajasthan legislative assembly in 2018.{{Cite news|last=Iqbal|first=Mohammad|date=2018-12-10|title=Raje resigns, Congress two seats away from majority|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/rajasthan-assembly-elections-2018/results-live-updates/article25709904.ece|access-date=2020-12-25|issn=0971-751X}} In 2019, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party entered into an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party before the 2019 Indian general election. RLP contested on the Nagaur seat and extended support to the Bharatiya Janata Party on all other seats of the state.{{Cite web |last=Goyal |first=Yash |date=4 April 2019 |title=RLP joins NDA in R'sthan |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/rlp-joins-nda-in-rsthan-753514 |access-date=2020-12-25 |website=Tribune India |language=en}}

Hanuman Beniwal who had contested from the Nagaur seat was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2019.{{Cite web|date=2019-05-14|title=Nagaur election result: Hanuman Beniwal defeats Jyoti Mirdha by over 1.8 lakh votes|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/elections/nagaur-election-result-live-updates-hanuman-beniwal-rajasthan-lok-sabha-election-2019-news/1578018/|access-date=2020-12-25|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}} Following the passage of the 2020 Indian agriculture acts, Beniwal resigned from three parliamentary committees,{{Cite web|last=Saini|first=Sachin|date=2020-12-21|title=Call on NDA, RLP break-up on Dec 26, says Hanuman Beniwal|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/call-on-nda-rlp-break-up-on-dec-26-says-hanuman-beniwal/story-ruh9PWLIfV7a5W4FVgOXvO.html|access-date=2020-12-25|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}} and the party extended its support to the Indian farmers' protest and supported the 2020 Indian general strike. On 26 December 2020, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party quit NDA alliance in 2020-21 farmers protest to three farmer laws and the party said them as Anti-farmer laws.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-26 |title=BJP ally RLP quits NDA over farm laws, Hanuman Beniwal claims Covid report fudged to keep him out of LS |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bjp-ally-rashtriya-loktantrik-party-quits-nda-over-farm-laws-1753362-2020-12-26 |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=India Today |language=en}}

On 27 October 2023, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party announced their alliance with Chandra Shekhar Ravan's Azad Samaj Party for the 2023 Rajasthan Assembly elections.{{Cite news |last=Nair |first=Sobhana K. |date=2023-10-31 |title=Rashtriya Loktantrik Party makes another bid to lose its 'marginal player' tag in Rajasthan politics |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/rajasthan-assembly/rlp-makes-another-bid-to-lose-its-marginal-player-tag-in-rajasthan-politics/article67480833.ece |access-date=2023-11-08 |issn=0971-751X}}

Following 2024 Indian general elections, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party announced their alliance with INDIA bloc to protect the democratic system in country. Hanuman Beniwal was announced as the candidate of INDIA bloc from Nagaur on 25 March 2024.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-03-25 |title=RLP supremo Hanuman Beniwal is INDIA bloc candidate from Nagaur following alliance with Congress |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/rlp-supremo-hanuman-beniwal-is-india-bloc-candidate-from-nagaur-following-alliance-with-congress/article67991393.ece |access-date=2024-06-02 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

On 11 January 2025, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party announced their alliance with Aam Admi Party for the 2025 Delhi Legislative Assembly elections and also supported the Arvind Kejriwal demand to include the Jats across the country into the central list of OBC.{{Cite web |title=Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 {{!}} Rashtriya Loktantrik Party announces support for AAP in upcoming polls |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/delhi/delhi-assembly-elections-2025-rashtriya-loktantrik-party-announces-support-for-aap-in-upcoming-polls-3351402 |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} “ Rajasthan MP Hanuman Beniwal's announcement came after AAP Rajya Sabha floor leader Sanjay Singh met him. As Beniwal supported Kejriwal's demand to include Jats across the country in the central list of OBCs, the AAP chief thanked his RLP counterpart.”

Electoral performance

class="wikitable " style="text-align:center;"

|+Lok sabha election results

!Style="background-color:{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"| Year

!Style="background-color:{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"| Lok sabha

!Style="background-color:{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"|Party leader

!Style="background-color:{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"|Pre-poll alliance

!Style="background-color:{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"| Seats contested

!Style="background-color:{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"| Seats won

!Style="background-color:{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"| Change in seats

!Style="background-color:{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"| Total votes

!Style="background-color:{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"| Overall vote %

!Style="background-color:{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"| Vote swing

!Style="background-color:{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"| Outcome

!Style="background-color:{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"| Ref.

2019

| 17th

|Rowspan =2|Hanuman Beniwal

| NDA

|{{Composition bar|1|543|{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}}}}

| {{Increase}}1

|Government Later Opposition

2024

| 18th

|INDIA

|{{Composition bar|1|543|{{party color|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}}}}

| {{Steady}}

| {{no2|Opposition}}

class="wikitable " style="text-align:center;" \|+State assembly election results !Style="background-color:{{party color\|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"\| Year !Style="background-color:{{party color\|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"\|Party leader !Style="background-color:{{party color\|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"\|Pre-poll alliance !Style="background-color:{{party color\|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"\| Seats contested !Style="background-color:{{party color\|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"\| Seats won !Style="background-color:{{party color\|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"\| Change in seats !Style="background-color:{{party color\|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"\| Total votes !Style="background-color:{{party color\|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"\| Overall vote % !Style="background-color:{{party color\|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"\| Vote swing !Style="background-color:{{party color\|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}};color:white"\| Outcome
Colspan=10\|Rajasthan
2018 \| Rowspan=2\|Hanuman Beniwal \|none \| 58 \|{{Composition bar\|3\|200\|{{party color\|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}}}} \| {{Increase}}3 \|856,038 \|2.40% \| {{Increase}}2.40 \|{{no2\|Opposition}}
2023 \|ASP(KR)+ \| 78 \|{{Composition bar\|1\|200\|{{party color\|Rashtriya Loktantrik Party}}}} \| {{Decrease}}2 \|946,209 \|2.38% \|{{Decrease}}0.02 \|{{no2\|Opposition}}

class="wikitable " style="text-align:center;"

|+State assembly election results