No pre-poll alliance in J&K polls, BJP to contest all 87 seats

Jammu, Oct 27: Ruling out any pre-poll alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP today said it will contest in all the 87 Assembly constituencies in the upcoming Assembly polls.

"We won't be entering into any pre-poll alliance with any political party as we are considering to field our candidates on all the 87 assembly constituencies in the state," BJP MP and party in charge for Jammu and Kashmir Avinash Rai Khanna told PTI.

Expressing confidence that his party would replicate its recent performance in Haryana and Maharashtra elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Khanna said that the party was confident to win more than 44 seats.

"We will go beyond 44 seats and form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir," said Khanna, who presided over a function at party office here.

He said the party would soon come out with the first list of its candidates, as the Election Commission has announced the dates for assembly elections in the state.

"Focus would be on the candidates who are capable to win, those who have a clean image and who can deliver. The party's election committee will hold a meeting today to decide the names of the candidates," he said.

The BJP leader said the party wants to strengthen democracy in the state and its main poll plank would be to provide corruption free governance to the people.

"Our manifesto is clear, we will provide a corruption free, fear free and dynasty free governance to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We want the people of the state to give us a chance and if we fail they can throw us out after six years," Khanna said.

PTI