V P Singh announces alliance for UP polls sans Cong, RLD

NEW DELHI: Even as efforts were on for the proposed fourth political front in Uttar Pradesh led by Congress, former Prime Minister V P Singh on Thursday announced an alliance of his Jan Morcha with a number of smaller parties that will put up 193 candidates for the assembly polls.

"All the parties in the Progressive Jan Morcha Alliance have agreed to the formula given by V P Singh and will act as per his direction," Jan Morcha President Raj Babbar said.

The announcement by Singh, who has emerged as a known detractor of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav in recent months, came at a time when talks were on beteween Congress, RLD and Jan Morcha for forging a fourth front amid hitches over the number of seats and constituencies.

Asked about the absence of Congress and Rashtriya Lok Dal from the alliance, the former Prime Minister said "we are fielding 193 candidates. There are 210 seats remaining and our doors are open for progressive parties."

The alliance includes CPI, Lok Janashakti Party, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, Rashtravadi Communist Party and the United Democratic Front led by Yaqoob Qureshi.

Babbar claimed his party had the backing of five farmers' associations and 18 Muslim organisations of the state whose representatives will figure in the list of candidates.