Udit Raj, V P Singh announce 'alliance' in Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi, May 27 (UNI) A number of Left, dalit, farmers' and socialist leaders will share the stage in Lucknow on May 30 to stake claim to the pro-poor, pro-dalit political space in Uttar Pradesh where Assembly polls are to be held next year.

Top leaders of the CPI, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Lok Janshakti Party, the Bharatiya Kisan Union, the Indian Justice Party, the All-India Progressive Janata Dal, besides the Jan Morcha, would attend the rally, prime mover of the function, former Prime Minister V P Singh said here today.

''At least a dozen parties are with us and will join the rally,'' he told UNI. Earlier, he addressed a news conference, called to formally announce an alliance between his Jan Morcha and the Indian Justice Party of dalit leader Udit Raj.

Mr Singh, however, refused to speculate on whether parties participating in the rally could join hands for the upcoming political battle in the state.

''It is for the people to decide whether they want an alternative political force to take care of their demands,'' he said vaguely to a question in this regard. Strangely, he also refused comment on the state's ''present ruling dispensation''.

''Yes we will go to other states as well, but our focus right now is Uttar Pradesh,'' he said when asked if the Jan Morcha planned alliances with like-minded parties in other states as well.

Left leaders A B Bardhan, D Raja and Atul Kumar Anjaan, the RJD's Lalu Prasad and his bete noire from the LJP Ram Vilas Paswan, Mr Udit Raj, former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the AIPJD's C M Ibrahim would be among those attending the May 30 rally at the Lakshman Mela Grounds, he informed.

''We want to provide an alternative to the caste politics of the Bahujan Samaj Party under Ms Mayawati,'' said Mr Udit Raj, making his intentions clear.

He said he would also use the platform to raise the demand of reservation for OBCs and dalits in the private sector as well as other injustices inflicted on them under successive governments.

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