BJP to fight UP polls alone: Murli Manohar Joshi

Kolkata, Mar 2 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi today stressed that his party would fight the Uttar Pradesh elections ''absolutely on its own and have no truck whatsoever with either the Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) or with the Samajwadi Party'' as rumoured.

Speaking to newsmen at the end his one-day visit to the city, the former human resources development minister said his party had mustered enough confidence to go it alone in the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh in April and May.

Referring to the BJP's landslide victory in Uttarakhand and Punjab to return to power after a gap of five years, Dr Joshi said the dual victory had given enough indications to others about what was going to happen in terms of election results in the largest state of the country.

On whether the BJP was still looking for the right partner to face the UP electorate, Dr Joshi replied, ''We are not looking for any electoral partner in UP like the Akalis in Punjab,'' he said and ruled out any tie-up with either the BSP or the SP.

''However, if any smaller party appraoches us we may consider their request,'' he said.

Asked about the number of seats the party was looking for in UP, Dr Joshi, also the former party president, said it would be enough to form the new government.

UNI