BJP to finalize UP LS poll candidates by December

"I have been given time till November to give the list of probable candidates for the Lok Sabha. The central leadership will clear the candidates by December 31," BJP UP unit chief Laxmikant Bajpai told reporters here.

He insisted the process of selecting party candidates is being done this time in a democratic manner and the mandal and district level office bearers have been asked to suggest names.

Bajpai, who took over as BJP Uttar Pradesh chief in April, said he has asked his seniors to keep him on "probation" till he delivered results. He said the democratic selection of candidates in recent local bodies polls was one of the reasons for the party's impressive performance of the party.

"Right now the BJP membership drive is on in Uttar Pradesh, which will be completed by August 15. This will be followed by an agitation for farmers of the state," Bajpai said.

He maintained ruling Samajwadi Party is BJP's main political adversary in Uttar Pradesh. The party also expects to wean away Dalit voters by appealing to their "Hindu sentiments and nationalism".

Bajpai said the SP government in UP is giving Rs 30,000 to Muslim families where a girl child is born and beautifying the cemetries of Muslims. "The party has nothing against this but the same should be done for other communities as well," he said.