LUCKNOW, Feb. 28 -- Seen as a dominant force in western Uttar Pradesh, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) is working to expand its base in eastern parts of the state ahead of the panchayat polls and the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. At a press conference held at the state headquarters in Lucknow on Friday, RLD state president and former MLC Ramashish Rai said the party will hold a massive rally on March 15 in Deoria district. Jayant Chaudhary, RLD national president and Union minister, will address the rally. Rai said the party organisation has been fully mobilised to make the Deoria event "historic," with leaders and workers actively preparing for a large turnout. The proposed rally is being positioned as a decisive step in strengthening the RLD's presence in Purvanchal, a region where the party has historically had limited influence compared to its strong base in western UP. For decades, the RLD's core support has been concentrated in western Uttar Pradesh, rooted in the legacy of former PM and farmer leader Chaudhary Charan Singh. Rai emphasised that the party's "caravan" is steadily moving eastward, with plans to hold rallies in Azamgarh, Ghazipur and Mau districts in the coming weeks. The expansion strategy aims to connect with farmers, youth and rural voters across the region. The RLD leadership has made it clear that the eastern push is not symbolic but part of a long-term electoral strategy. The party plans to strengthen its organisational structure down to the booth level by July 31, followed by district conferences across Uttar Pradesh in August and September. Pointing to Jayant Chaudhary's role at the Centre, Anupam Mishra, RLD national secretary, highlighted decisions such as connecting youth to employment through the ministry of skill development and increasing sugarcane prices by Rs.30....