BJP tightens belt for coming elections in four states

New Delhi, Jan 4 (UNI) Counting on anti-incumbency factor, the BJP has begun in full swing its poll preparations, confident of winning a majority in Uttarakhand, and in Punjab with its bigger partner Shiromani Akali Dal.

While it will be contesting all the 70 assembly seats in Uttarakhand, the party has decided to put up its candidates only at 22 or 23 seats in Punjab, where the remaining of the 117 seats will be left for SAD, party sources told UNI. In the last assembly elections in Punjab, BJP won only 2 seats, while SAD had got 40.

In Uttarakhand, it is almost decided to nominate former Union Minister Maj-Gen (retd) B C Khanduri as chief ministerial candidate, although another name being tossed up is former chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshiari.

In Punjab, there is consensus on former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal of the SAD as the chief ministerial candidate.

Party President Rajnath Singh said discussions were on with the Shiromani Akali Dal on seat sharing. While BJP had already been given 22 seats, discussions were on for one more seat, he said,adding party General Secretary Arun Jaitley, also incharge of Punjab, was holding parleys with the SAD.

The party feels that the Congress Governments in Punjab (Amarinder Singh) and in Uttarakhand (ND Tiwari) were very unpopular and the people of the two states would definitely throw them out.

"We are confident of re-writing political history by winning elections in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi, Mumbai and also Uttar Pradesh," BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said.

UNI