Cong to fight 2007 UP assembly polls alone

Allahabad, Aug 3 (UNI) The Congress today asserted the party would have no truck with other parties and will contest the 2007 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls on its own.

Talking to UNI here, AICC general secretary and Congress' UP in- charge Ashok Gehlot also denied reports in a section of press that his party was going to have electoral alliance with BSP.

''Congress may make electoral alliance at the time of polls or during the government formation on its own terms and conditions, for the benefit of the party.'' He also informed the party had decided to allot 50 per cent tickets to 'youth.' In reply to a question, Mr Gehlot said groupism existed in every party, which did not, however, create any major problem.

The former Rajasthan Chief Minister said there was fear among the people of UP that if elections were held in the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime, it would not be free and fair.

''There is no law and order in UP...people are fed-up with the misrule of the previous BJP, SP and BSP governments and want a change in government. Development, security and bright future can only happen under the Congress rule,'' he emphasised.

Mr Gehlot said Mr Yadav would not win the next assembly polls by doling out unemployment allowance to the youth.

In reply to another question, he said the outside support to the Samajwadi Party government in UP was the 'necesssity of time.' ''We did not want the 'communal forces' to regain power in UP.'' The Congress leader maintained his party had been fighting the 'communal forces' for the last 50 years.

''BJP's only aim is to 'disturb the communal harmony' and peace of the country. The party did nothing for the welfare of people,'' he allegedl MORE UNI JL VS PA RS1722