New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) said that they are open to discussions with similar-minded parties for a pre-poll alliance in the Union Territory ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, the Altaf Bukhari-led JKAP has firmly ruled out any alliance with the BJP at present, citing ideological differences. 


Apni Party general secretary Rafi Mir expressed the intention of the Party to extend invitations to other like-minded parties to collaborate and form an alliance for the betterment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "We will invite all the like-minded parties and contest the elections together. This is just a start. We expect few people will approach us and we will also approach people", PTI quoted Mir as saying.


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"The party has empowered the president to take the discussions forward. I think, it will be given a shape in a day or two", Rafi Mir further added.


Have Ideological Differences With The BJP: J-K Apni Party 


Mir also mentioned that the Apni Party has some ideological differences with the BJP and right now, talks with them are difficult. "We will see in the time to come. We want to fight on our own strength right now", he remarked, as per PTI.


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Notably, Salman Nizami, the chief spokesman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), has revealed that discussions with similar-minded parties regarding a potential alliance are still in the initial stages. He indicated that the final decision regarding this matter would be made in the forthcoming days by DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad.