The Bharatiya Janata Party found another alliance partner on Monday, with the Uttar Pradesh-based Apna Dal announcing its support for the NDA.
As per the alliance that was firmed up on Monday, the Apna Dal, which claims a strong political support from the Kurmi backward caste in Uttar Pradesh will contest two seats in Mirzapur and Pratapgarh; it will extend support to the BJP for the remaining constituencies.
Apna Dal national president Krishan Patel and general secretary and MLA Anupriya Patel announced their support for the NDA. Talks of an alliance between the two parties were doing the rounds for some time now, but a section of workers within the BJP were opposed to partnering with the Apna Dal.
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Apna Dal, was floated by Sone Lal Patel, Anupriya's father in 1995. A former associate of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, Mr. Patel fell out with Mayawati and formed his own party.
In the 2012 assembly elections, Apna Dal contested 76 assembly seats and got 4.54 per cent of votes while they won just one seat where Anupriya got elected from Rohaniya in Varanasi district.