Bangarappa rules out alliance with Congress

Bangalore, Apr 24: Scotching rumours of a possible pre-poll alliance with the Congress for the Assembly polls in Karnataka, Samajawadi Party's state unit president and former Chief Minister S Bangarappa today announced that his party will contest next month's polls on its own.

Talking to UNI here, Mr Bangarappa said the party would field candidates in over 100 assembly constituencies where it has a fair chance to win.

Brushing aside the statement by senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna that talks with the SP were in progress for an electoral alliance, Mr Bangarappa dubbed it as 'totaly false''.

Replying to questions, Mr Bangarappa said he had decided to contest in two separate constituencies, Shikaripura and Sagar in Shimoga district, which go to the polls on May 16 in the second phase.

He said national President of SP and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh would campaign along with other party leaders, including MP Jayaprada, Amar Singh and Jaya Bachchan. ''The party will also release its election manifesto in a day or two'' he added.

UNI