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JD (U) to contest 50 seats

Uma Bharti to field candidates

Jalandhar: The Janata Dal (United) on Saturday announced it would contest 50 seats in the Punjab Assembly elections if talks on seat-sharing with NDA coalition partner Shiromani Akali Dal did not work out.

``We want to forge an alliance with NDA partner Shiromani Akali Dal and talks are still on for 10 seats, but we will contest 50 seats in the Assembly if an agreement is not reached,'' party general secretary Jevad Raza told reporters here.

Asked if JD(U) was still hopeful of adjustment with SAD, which has announced almost all candidates for the February 13 polls, he said ``everything is possible in politics before the filing of nominations process begins''. On January 17, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav would release the party's first list of candidates, he said, adding Mr. Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would tour the State for electioneering.

The party would also field 20 candidates for the Assembly elections in Manipur and 10 in Uttarakhand, Mr. Raza said.

He said in Uttar Pradesh, where the JD(U) has a stronger base, it would forge ties with the regional Apna Dal and the BJP. The issue of seat-sharing would be decided after talks among the partners.

Amritsar: Bhartiya Jan Shakti Party chief Uma Bharti said that her party would field candidates for Punjab Assembly election from 33 constituencies. The list of party candidates would be announced on January 15, she told reporters here. She criticised the saffron party leadership for announcing that the star campaigner for the party would be Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been convicted by the High Court. -- PTI

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JD (U) to contest 50 seats

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