Danish Ali joins BSP, may contest from UP

Senior JD(S) leader and party spokesman Danish Ali on Saturday joined the BSP here amid speculations that he might contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh.

BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra, in whose presence Ali joined the party, said that the latter had earlier met the party supremo Mayawati.

Ali, who played a crucial in finalising the seat-sharing formula between JD (S) and Congress in Karnataka, claimed that he had the blessings of his former party supremo H.D.Deve Gowda. ''I have joined the BSP with his (Deve Gowda) blessings and permission,'' he claimed.

Although neither Mishra nor Ali revealed the latter's future plan, according to the sources in the BSP, Ali might contest from Amroha Lok Sabha seat in western UP region.

Senior BSP leaders, however, refused to comment on record on the speculations.

Amroha LS constituency has a sizable population of Muslim voters and the BSP feels that it will gain from Ali's candidature from there. ''Amroha and its adjoining districts have a sizable Muslim population. Danish Ali will be campaigning in those constituencies also besides other seats,'' said a BSP leader here.