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BJP hopes to gain in sixth phase of U.P. polls

Banking on its alliance with Apna Dal, a predominantly Kurmi outfit, for 52 seats going to polls on Thursday

Lucknow: Banking on its alliance with the Apna Dal, a predominantly Kurmi outfit, the BJP is hoping to make huge gains in the sixth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections on 52 seats several of which have sizeable population from the community.

The polling for the sixth phase will take place on Thursday.

Apna Dal had bagged three seats in the last Assembly polls while it had finished third in five assembly constituencies.

The candidates of the party had emerged victorious at Gangapur, Nawabganj and Allahabad West seats while they finished third at Rajgarh, Meja, Soraon, Chail and Sirathu seats. Its candidates had secured over 20,000 votes at all these seats.

Out of these 52 constituencies, the Samajwadi Party had won 20 seats in 2002 polls followed by BSP which bagged 15 seats while BJP emerged victorious in 11 seats. The saffron party candidates had finished second and third on several seats in the previous elections where the Apna Dal candidates had also cornered a large chunk of votes.

The BJP-Apna Dal combine this time around is hoping to turn the tables on the SP and BSP by what they feel polarisation of the Kurmi voters in favour of the alliance giving it an edge over their rivals.

Many of the 52 seats going to the polls on Thursday either Kurmi dominated or they have a sizeable presence and hold the key to the success of a candidate.

"The alliance with Apna Dal was struck keeping these equations in mind," BJP secretary Prabhat Jha said.

"We hope to make heavy gains in the sixth phase especially in the Kurmi dominated areas," Mr. Jha said.

BJP leaders and Apna Dal president Sonelal Patel have been addressing joint election rallies in the region in an apparent attempt to drive home the point that their pre-poll alliance is strong.

To buttress the point the alliance is confined only to the Assembly elections, Mr. Jha said Apna Dal will be with the BJP "even if we get an absolute majority on our own". Significantly the BJP has categorically ruled out the possibility of forging any post-poll alliance in the event of a hung assembly after the polls.

With the poll surveys predicting a hung house after the elections, the remaining two phases of the polls have become a do or die battle for the BSP, BJP and SP which are vying for the top spot in the fight for number one party in the State. -- PTI

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