No pre-poll alliance with BJP in J-K, says Sajjad Lone

Former Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader Sajjad Lone, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, said Tuesday that his party has no plans to form a pre-poll alliance with the BJP in the state.

"We are contesting the elections alone, the lists are out and we are fielding our own candidates. So, there is nothing like this," Lone told ANI here.

The People's Conference chief also added that his meeting with Prime Minister Modi was mainly focused on relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims and overall development of the state.

Earlier, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh also ruled out a pre-poll alliance with any other party in Jammu and Kashmir.

The statements from both sides seek to quash speculations of a pre-poll alliance between the BJP and the People's Conference, which had arisen after Lone's meeting with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi.

The ex-separatist leader had also praised Prime Minister Modi, saying the latter was a very great human being.

"PM is a great human being, so down to earth; he said he'll take personal effort in restoring glory of Srinagar. He was very positive about including Srinagar in smart cities concept and the Centre's intervention in need of medical colleges and hospitals," said Lone.

The BJP, which is riding high on the 'Modi wave', is expecting a turnaround in the Jammu and Kashmir elections this time after its spectacular win in the general elections this year, followed by huge victories in Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections.