UP Minister embarrasses SP, says joined hands with Cong to stop devils

In what may bring embarrassment to the Samajwadi Party ahead of the second phase of polling, Uttar Pradesh Minister Ram Karan Arya has dubbed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to be a party of devils and said that alliance with a similar Congress was aimed at ensuring that the politically crucial state does not witness bloodshed and communal riots.

Arya, who was speaking at a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Arya Nagar district, asserted that the Samajwadi Party would have formed the government on its own.

Arya said that his party has been generous enough to allot 105 seats to the Congress.

"The Samajwadi Party can form the government in Uttar Pradesh even without the Congress support. But to ensure the BJP's loss in the elections, the Congress was the right party to team up with," said Arya.

"The BJP's victory in this election will destroy the political system of Uttar Pradesh. And to defeat a devil, we have joined hands with the Congress" he added.

In Uttar Pradesh, the nomination filing ends today for 49 seats of sixth phase. A total of 439 candidates had filed nomination till yesterday for this phase.

The campaigning for the second phase of assembly elections ended yesterday evening. The voting will be held on February 15. 67 seats spread over 11 districts will go to polls in this phase.

The first phase of polling was held on Saturday with a 64 percent voter turnout. The first phase included 73 constituencies with a total of 839 candidates in the fray.