No alliance, bouquet to BSP chief was courtesy: BJP

In the run-up to the state elections, the BJP today ruled out an alliance with the BSP before or after the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh even as it started fast-pacing the process of preparing the list of candidates.

The dates for the polls are yet to be announced, a fact that has been a sore point with the Samajwadi Party-led government.

"There is no question of an alliance with the BSP or SP before or after the polls," BJP chief Rajnath Singh said.

His comments came two days after party leader Mukhtar Abbas presented a bouquet to BSP chief Mayawati on her 51st birthday on. Reports suggested that Naqvi's move could be an attempt to forge an alliance with the BSP.

"The presentation of the bouquet was just a courtesy. When I was the chief minister, I met Mulayam Singh Yadav on such occasions out of courtesy," Singh said.

The BJP is undertaking a week-long exercise to select candidates for the polls during which the party leadership will meet members of the state election committees and district office-bearers.