Uma's party to contest Punjab assembly elections next year

Jalandhar, July 31 (UNI) Bharatiya Janshakti Party president and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharati today announced that her party would contest the Punjab assembly elections scheduled to be held early next year.

Talking to reporters here, Ms Bharati said, '' Although my party is like an offspring in the political arena of Punjab, I wish to field candidates in the assembly elections.'' She said a decision on issues like number of seats and poll alliances would be taken during the next three months.

She said she had good relations with Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) president and former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and she respected him, but political relations between the two parties would be defined purely on the basis of issues and ideology.

She said her party would not compromise on ideology.

Earlier, addressing a party rally here, Ms Bharati said it would take about three months to strengthen her party's organisational set-up in Punjab.

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