GANGTOK, Feb 19 (UNI): The Sikkim unit of the BJP has decided to field candidates against the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), an ally of the NDA.
State BJP president H R Pradhan said, "it is a post-election alliance.
So it should not affect us.
Besides, in a meeting held in Delhi on February seven, the central leadership has decided that no step will be taken without consulting the states.
Thus we have been given a free hand in this respect." He said the BJP would field candidates in the Lok Sabha polls in all the 32 assembly constituencies in the state.
Pradhan also ruled out going for any alliance.
"Since the SDF has already declared that they would not go into any alliance, we have no responsibility of going into alliance.
We will fight the elections against the ruling SDF in the state," he said.
Regarding the party's opinion about article 371f, Pradhan said, "we are for article 371f.
In fact it is one of the tools for preventing influx which will in the long run help preserve the political, cultural indentity and the environment of Sikkim.
The ministry should take up this issue and give adequate protection to the act."
