LS elections 2009: IIT, IIM alumni to contest 40 seats

The Bharatiya Punarnirman Dal (BPD) - a political outfit floated by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) alumni - will contest the Lok Sabha election from at least 40 seats across the country, a party leader said today.

"We are all geared to contesting the election. Till now, we have only announced eight candidates," said BPD national working committee member Omendra Bharat.

Candidates have been named for four seats in Uttar Pradesh, two in Delhi and one each in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, said Bharat, a graduate from IIT-Kanpur.

Asked about the party's poll plank, Bharat said, "Growing terrorism and issues like education and jobs will be high on our agenda."

Formed in December 2006, BPD contested, without success, five seats in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in 2007. "We got 1.5-2 per cent of the total votes," said Bharat.