BJP releases first list of 317 candidates for UP polls

New Delhi, Mar 14 (UNI) The Central Election Committee (CEC) of the BJP tonight cleared the names of 317 candidates for the forthcoming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

The committee consists of top BJP leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani, Rajnath Singh, Venkaiah Naidu and Murli Manohar Joshi.

The candidates include UP BJP President Kesri Nath Tripathi and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Lalji Tandon.

BJP leaders said the party, having struck an electoral understanding with Apna Dal and Janata Dal (United), will contest 350 odd constituencies, out of a total of 403 seats and will leave the rest to its allies.

Law and order, corruption, malgovernance, price rise and freeing the administration from the 'goonda' elements will be the issues the party would be taking up besides treading a hard Hindutva line ahead of the elections.

UNI