JD(U) not to align with BJP in 2007 UP assembly polls

Varanasi, June 25 (UNI) Janata Dal (United) President and former union minister Sharad Yadav today said that his party will contest the 2007 assembly polls in UP with Apna Dal and not with the BJP.

''We are very much part of the BJP led NDA on the national political scene, but have different political compulsions on the state level. Our party contested the last assembly polls in Gujarat without the BJP and will follow suit in 2007 UP polls,'' Mr Yadav told newspersons after addressing a rally in Benia Bag Park here this evening.

''We will contest the next UP polls under the leadership of Apna Dal president Dr Sone Lal Patel,'' he maintained.

Mr Yadav further said that though there were only two players -- JD (U) and Apna Dal -- that presently formed the Vyvastha Parivarthan Morcha in UP, many more like minded parties will join the front in the near future.

When asked about the possibility of former PM V P Singh led Jan Dal joining the front, Mr Yadav declined any direct comment, but added that the new Morcha will represent the third front in UP politics.

Earlier, addressing the joint rally of the JD(U) and Apna Dal, Mr Yadav and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, said that the new front will provide the people of UP, the third force which will drive both Maywati led BSP and the ruling Samajwadi Party away from state politics.

Mr Kumar said that akin to Bihar, where the JD(U) had provided the much needed political change, the alliance with Apna Dal will make both BSP and SP bite the dust in UP.

''The cycle of Mulayam Singh and the mahout less elephant of Mayawati has only deceived the people of UP by enriching themselves and close friends and the time has come when the people of the state needed to deflate their political fortunes,'' Mr Yadav said.

Earlier, the Samajwadi Party activists showed black flags to the cavalcade of the JD(U) and Apna Dal leaders.

Meanwhile, the two JD(U) leaders also visited the Sankatmochan temple in the city and met the Mahant of the 16th century temple Vir Bhadra Mishra.

A powerful blast had rocked the same temple on March seven last, 15 minutes before another blast on the Varanasi railway station, killing 18 people and wounding over 100 others.

UNI ARS VD KN1953