SP announces candidates for two more LS constituencies

Adding to the discomfort of the Congress that is engaged in seat-sharing talks with SP in UP, the Mulayam Singh-led party on Tuesday announced candidates for two more Lok Sabha constituencies while replacing a party nominee in one seat.

"The party has decided to field Bhalchandra Yadav from Khalilabad and Toofani Saroj from Machlishahar. In Mishrik, Shyam Prakash Pasi will replace Reena Chaudhary, who has refused to contest election on personal grounds," SP state president Shivpal Singh Yadav told reporters here.

The party has announced candidates for 60 seats out of the 80 Parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. Shivpal, however, said the party was hopeful of
forging an alliance with the Congress in a bid to keep communal forces at bay.

"Possibilities of an alliance still exist. National leaders of both the parties are discussing the issue and we are hopeful that something concrete comes. A decision is likely to be taken soon," he said, adding "our main objective is to stop BJP from forming a government at the centre".

Accusing the ruling BSP government of indulging in corruption, he said false cases were being registered against his party leaders. Police had recently lodged a case against Shivpal and 10 other SP leaders for violating election code of conduct during their rally in Bhadoi.