GGP-SP enter into pre-poll alliance in C'garh

Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) has entered into a pre-poll alliance with Samajwadi Party (SP) in Chhattisgarh, it was announced in Bilaspur on Friday.

Out of the 90 Assembly seats in Chhattisgarh, the SP will contest 20 seats and the GGP 70 seats. GGP-SP alliance's Chief Minister candidate will be GGP chief Heera Singh Markam.

Earlier, the GGP had held talks with Congress and later with Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi) but no alliance materialised.

The GGP has a large following in the tribal belt of both Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Markam hails from Pali district, Korba. He has been fighting for the rights of Gondi tribe and had formed the party in 1991. The GGP has fought Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh but not registered any major victory although it has has garnered votes.