BJP on hunt for new allies

NEW DELHI: The BJP, which is desperately seeking to expand its basket of alliance partners ahead of the general election, is set to stitch a pre-poll alliance with the AGP in Assam, while it finds itself torn between Mr Kuldeep Bishnoi���s Haryana Janhit Congress (BL) and Mr Om Prakash Chautala���s INLD.

The state unit of Haryana has been asked to undertake an assessment of the likely impact of alliances with either of the two parties, and submit its report soon. Mr Bishnoi, who broke ranks with the Congress to float his own party last year, not only voted against the confidence motion moved by prime minister Manmohan Singh, but also attended the dinner thrown by Mr L K Advani for NDA MPs on July 20.

The move signalled the Bhiwani MP���s readiness to join hands with the BJP-led alliance for cornering the ruling Congress in the next general elections. The BJP���s Haryana unit is vehemently opposed to the idea of mending fences with the INLD. They cite the shoddy treatment meted out to the BJP members by Mr Chautala and his two sons during their previous stint in power in the state between 2000-2003, when the two parties had an alliance with each other, and are said to have favoured a deal with Mr Bishnoi and his father, former union minister Bhajan Lal.

The BJP, however, faces no such problems in faraway Assam, where the party is said to be on the verge of clinching a deal with the AGP, which is presently a part of the UNPA. Talks between the two parties are said to have reached an advanced stage. Ms Sushma Swaraj has been negotiating on behalf of the BJP.