UP poll: Ex soldiers to advertise for prospective candidates

Lucknow, Mar 28 (UNI) Here is a party with a difference. A group of ex servicemen, who have formed War Veterans' Party, today released its election manifesto for UP assembly poll, though it has not yet decided on its candidates -- it would advertise in newspapers seeking prospective candidates.

The War Veteran's Party has been recognised by the Election Commission of India as a recognised political outfit in January, 2007.

''Though we have lost time in coming to UP before the elections were announced, we would field candidates for phases IV to VII,'' claimed president of the newly-formed party Capt (retd) Lawrence Naithanial here today.

He claimed that all ex soldiers and their dependents who believed in the law were free to seek a ticket. ''If people would want us, we will win, otherwise no regrets,'' he added.

The retired Navy official said ''well-wishers'' would fund the election campaign. To a poser, he said ex servicemen were eager to contest election on the ticket of War Veterans' Party. ''We were invited to UP by such people...in a week or two we would release our list of candidates.'' He claimed that UP had the highest number of ex-servicemen in the country. ''Most of the 5 lakh war widows in the country are settled in UP,'' he informed.

The newly-formed outfit also released its election manifesto, thereby becoming the second party in UP to do so.

The manifesto claims that the party candidates, if elected, would become the ''real voice of ex-servicemen'' estimated to be around 25 lakh.

The party also charged politicians with making hollow promises to soldiers in times of war.

UNI