The BJP on Sunday released its second list candidates for 155 seats in Uttar Pradesh giving Home Minister Rajnath Singh's son Pankaj Singh the ticket from Noida. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who joined the BJP after resigning from Congress last year, will be party's candidate from Lucknow Cantt while Siddharth Nath Singh will contest from Allahabad West. The party has fielded Garima Singh from Amethi. The list was finalised at the meeting of BJP's Central Election Committee chaired by party president Amit Shah. It was attended by Prime minister Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh, Finance minister Arun jaitley and other members of the committee. The BJP has till now declared 304 of the 403 candidates. Announcing the names, BJP general secretary Arun Singh said the list represents all sections of people, adding, "BJP is confident of forming a government in UP with a two-third majority". Asked about absence of Muslim nominee in the list, he said there was "no suitable" candidate. Pankaj Singh, a general secretary in the party's state unit, has missed out on becoming its nominee in a couple of previous elections. His name was doing the rounds for a number of constituencies with the party finally allotting Noida seat to him. Brajesh Pathak, who joined the party after deserting BSP, has been given ticket from Lucknow Central. The seven-phase polls in the state will take place on February 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, March 4 and 8. The party has been pulling out all stops to capture power in UP, which in terms of political implications is more important than all other four poll-bound states. Meanwhile, the ruling Samajwadi Party and Congress made their alliance official in Uttar Pradesh and vowed to defeat BJP. the SP will contest on 298 seats while Congress will field its candidates on 105 seats.
