Apna Dal hints at breaking ties with BJP to align with SP

Varanasi, June 27 (UNI) Accusing the BJP for not working towards the success of BJP-Apna Dal-JD(U) alliance in recent Uttar Pradesh assembly poll, Apna Dal (AD) chief Sone Lal Patel today hinted at breaking ties with the former to shake hands with the Samajwadi Party.

''The possibility of the continuance of AD-BJP alliance is very bleak now, especially after review of the poll results, which drew home the point that the big brother of the alliance did not work for the success of our candidates,'' Dr Patel told newspersons here.

''The BJP too is reviewing the UP poll results and once they are over with the process, we will meet their national leaders to talk about the future of the alliance,'' he added.

''We are waiting for the BJP's response, but the prospects of continuance of the alliance are very bleak.'' Not singling out any particular BJP leader, Dr Patel said many state party leaders openly worked against AD candidates. He, however, gave a clean chit to former UP chief minister under whose leadership the BJP fought the elections.

''We have no problems with Mr Singh, who has never been against alliance with the AD,'' Dr Patel maintained.

Terming the BSP government in UP as ''anti-OBC'' and ''anti-minority,'' Dr Patel said the time has come, when all political forces, committed to the interest of the OBC and minority, should join hands against Ms Mayawati.

Hinting towards a possible alliance with the SP for the Lok Sabha poll, Dr Patel said ''nobody is a permanent friend or foe in today's politics and if situation arises, we could go for an alliance with the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led party.'' AD and JD(U) had contested a total of 50 seats in the UP assembly poll, while the BJP had fought on the remaining 353 seats.

While the BJP managed to win 50-odd seats, the AD which had won three seats in the 2002 polls drew blank this time.

''We are going to launch a statewide drive from July 15 to integrate the OBC community which has been the prime target of the ruling BSP's politics of vendetta,'' he informed.

AD, predominantly a party of the Kurmi community has a significant base in at least 50 seats of Eastern UP.

UNI