LUCKNOW: The Bharatiya Janata Party is yet to decide on alliances with smaller parties in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

BJP vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here on Wednesday that the party had not taken any decision on the issue. The party was trying to forge an alliance only with the people. The final decision would be taken after hearing the State leaders' views.

Mr. Naidu said the list of candidates would be announced after the March 10-11 meeting of the national central election committee in New Delhi.

He set at rest speculation about a "shadow chief minister" when he announced that the BJP would contest the elections under Mr. Kalyan Singh's leadership.

Mr. Naidu said that going by his performance as Chief Minister, Mr. Singh was "head and shoulders" above both Chief Minister Mulayam Singh and the former Chief Minister, Mayawati.

The poll verdict would have an impact on the fate of the Central Government. "UPA in U.P. means Mr. Singh and Ms. Mayawati," he said, adding that their criticism of the UPA Government was an eyewash.

He said minority appeasement would be the party's main campaign issue

Mr. Naidu presided over a State campaign committee meeting, which was attended by State unit president Kesari Nath Tripathi, Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha Lalji Tandon, Mr. Kalyan Singh, Kalraj Mishra and Vinay Katiyar.

Sources in the BJP said the party, in principle, was not against having an alliance with the smaller parties but in this case the past performance of the Janata Dal (U) and Apna Dal had to be taken in consideration.

Kurmi leaders in the BJP, however, are against any tie-up with the Apna Dal.

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