Beni Prasad strikes alliance to pull dalits, muslims

New Delhi, Mar 28 (UNI) Indian Justice Party (IJP) President Udit Raj today announced the formal alliance with Samajwadi Kranti Dal (SJD), floated by Mr Beni Prasad Verma, once a close aide of Uttar Pradesh Chieh Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Mr Raj claimed that BJP leader Arif Mohd Khan, who has a great Muslim following in the state, would soon join the alliance.

Given Beni Prasad's sway on Kurmis in the districts of Barabanki, Bahraich, Faizabad, Sonebhadra and Mirzapur, the alliance can decide electoral losses, if not wins.

Mr Raj, however, claimed that the alliance would win 50 seats.

He said the alliance would hurt the BJP-Apna Dal and the BSP alike.

The Apna Dal and the Samajwadi Kranti Dal have Kurmis as common mass base.

UNI