BJP hints at electoral alliance in 2007 UP assembly poll

Ghazipur, Nov 29 (UNI) The BJP today hinted at an electoral alliance with the NDA partners in the 2007 Uttar Pradesh assembly poll.

Talking to UNI here, BJP state unit president and former assembly speaker Keshri Nath Tripathi, however, announced the party would not take the support of the BSP, Congress or SP to form its government in the aftermath of the poll.

''BJP will form the next government on its own,'' he asserted.

He alleged chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav was withdrawing cases against the anti-national activists of banned Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

Mr Tripathi was here on the occasion of the first death anniversary of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai, who was shot dead along with his aides on November 29, 2005.

The state BJP president alleged the hand of UP government in the murder of Rai. ''The state government is also shielding his killers.'' He also said that Allahabad High Court had to be approached to get a CBI probe ordered in the high-profile case.

''Now, the state government has stopped cooperating in the CBI probe,'' Mr Tripathi alleged.

An MLA from Mohammadabad assembly constituency in Ghazipur district, Rai and his several supporters were shot dead in broad daylight in Ghazipur on November 29 last year.

They were ambushed near the Ballia-Ghazipur border by motorcycle-borne miscreants armed with sophisticated weapons.

Later, an FIR was lodged against 10 persons in the crime.

Ruling Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari, his younger brother and controversial Mau MLA Mukhtar Ansari and their brother-in-law Ejaz are prime accused in the case.

Afzal had surrendered in the court on December 8 last year.

The trio are lodged in Ghazipur jail at present.

Another accused, sharp-shooter Sanjeev Maheshwari alias Jeeva has also been arrested.

Mafia don and sharp-shooter Munna Bajrangi is on the run, while Firdaus has been gunned down.

UNI XC/VS KN MSJ BD1844