Apna Dal, BJP ally in UP Polls, faces split, releases manifesto

Lucknow, Apr 1 (UNI) The Apna Dal, which is contesting the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls in an electoral alliance with the BJP, announced its election manifesto today amid threat of a split in the party.

Party President Sone Lal Patel released the manifesto while putting up a brave face, claiming his party was intact.

The rival faction leaders expelled by him counter-claimed, saying theirs was the real party and the original party had no democratic locus standi.

Dr Patel today announced the expulsion of party's general secretary Muneeshwar Maurya and Pratapgarh district president while the rival faction of Maurya termed the Sone Lal-led party ''non-existant and even installed Jeevit Lal Patel as the new party President.'' Meawnhile, the party's election manifesto promised to give people a clean and corruption free administration, end of goonda raj to establish the rule of law, better deal for minority, Dalits and weaker sections, besides stregthening the Lok Pal institution.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, as a part of its electroal understanding with Sone Lal Patel-led Apna Dal, has left 37 seats for the latter. The BJP is contesting on 351 of the 403 assembly seats, leaving 15 others for the Janata dal (U).

UNI