UP BJP free to ally with non-NDA parties: Rajnath

Varanasi, Jan 14 (UNI) Hinting prospective permutations and combinations in politics of poll bound Uttar Pradesh, BJP national president Rajnath Singh today said the party was not averse to striking a pre-poll electoral alliance with the non-NDA parties.

''The state party leadership is free to have a poll tie-up with the non-NDA parties after due consultations with the central leadership,'' Mr Singh said while interacting with mediapersons here.

Mr Singh's statement gives further fuel to speculations in political circles about a possible tie-up between Apna Dal (AD) and BJP in UP.

The Apna Dal led by Sone Lal Patel is a significant political force in East UP districts having sizable population of the Kurmi caste and with former CM Kalyan Singh -- a Lodh Rajput -- calling the shots in the state a tie-up with the AD could be beneficial for the party.

The party has already projected Mr Kalyan Singh as BJP's chief ministerial face.

The former Union Minister further claimed that there was a strong undercurrent in favour of the BJP in the state and the party rank and file is working hard to translate this overwhelming support into a clear cut majority in the future UP Assembly.

Tom tomming the success of the party in the mayoral polls and an overwhelming crowd at the BJP's 'Parivartan Rally' in Lucknow recently, Mr Singh said BJP is on track to form next government in the state.

The former UP Chief Minister said the party's strategy of banking on youth and women power in the local body polls will continue during the forthcoming Assembly elections and a large number of young faces will contest the elections on the party ticket.

''We are committed at 33 per cent reservation to women and the fair sex will be given this share in ticket distribution for the Assembly polls.'' He, however, evaded reply when asked whether son Pankaj Singh will be a party candidate in the Vidhan Sabha elections. Mr Pankaj Singh was seen very active during the recent BJP national executive meet in Lucknow.

Mr Singh also slammed Mulayam Singh Yadav led UP government in preventing the serial killings of Nithari and added ''the CM should have resigned taking moral responsibility over the horrendous incident.'' ''Only God knows what stopped Mr Yadav from quitting the CM's post,'' Mr Singh maintained.

UNI