BJP, JD(U) at war over Rajasthan seat

Rajasthan unit of JD(U) said it would field candidates from eight Lok Sabha constituencies, including the contentious Banswara seat, which the BJP is also contesting.

After Bihar, the BJP-JD(U) alliance is facing difficulties in Rajashtan. On Monday, the JD(U) state unit announced fielding candidates from eight consituencies, including the contentious Banswara, in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

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"The BJP had promised to leave Banswara for us," state unit JD(U) president Gopal Pacherwal said in Jaipur. "But during his Bharat Uday Yatra, LK Advani announced BJP's Dhan Singh Rawat as their candidate from the seat at a public meet. This was against the spirit of the alliance."

After discussing the situation, the state unit had decided to field its own candidate -- MLA Jeet Mal Khant -- from Banswara, Pacherwal said. It has also sent a list of candidates to contest Bayana, Dausa, Swai Madhopur, Alwar, Sikar, Jodhpur and Tonk for approval from the party's central leadership, he added.

"We are confident of winning Banswara, and our candidates on seven other seats would shatter BJP's dream of winning all 25 seats in Rajashtan," Pacherwal said.