Three parties forge alliance for 2012 UP Assembly polls

The three state-level parties Bundelkhand Congress, Peace Party and Apna Dal here today formally announced an alliance between them to contest the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections jointly.

"The three parties have decided to contest Assembly elections jointly and an effort will be made to provide a strong alternative to the people," National President of Peace Party Mohammed Ayub told reporters here.

Bundelkhand Congress President Raja Bundela alleged that Muslims of the region were exploited by the state government.

"From the Congress regime upto Mulayam Singh Yadav's government Muslims were used only as a vote back and they did not get an honest leadership," he said, adding that the migration of the community from Bundelkhand region was 63 per cent.

"If alliance comes to power the first chief minister would either be a Muslim or a woman," Bundela added.

General secretary of Apna Dal Anupriya Patel said that the alliance was hopeful that people would reject corruption of Mayawati and Congress, goondaraj of SP and communalism of BJP.

When asked about the seat sharing among the parties, Ayub said that while PP would contest on 230 seats, AD would field candidate on 130 seats and the rest would go to Bundelkhand Congress.

On the Centre returning Uttar Pradesh government resolution on creation of new states, Bundela said that it had not been rejected but only some queries have been raised.