Chandigarh: The BJP and Chandigarh Vikas Manch (CVM) led by former union minister Harmohan Dhawan Tuesday announced political alliance for the coming Municipal Corporation (MC) elections here.

In the last Lok Sabha elections CVM founder President Harmohan Dhawan had extended support to Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and local unit of Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Guru Partap Singh Riar.

Dhawan  minister of civil aviation in the center government in the Chander Shekar government led Janta Dal. After the collapse of Janta Dal government,Dhawan joined the congress in the year 1999 and supported Pawan Kumar Bansal in the Lok Sabha elections. Bansal had won that election. However due to certain differences with Congress, Dhawan floated his own party and won three seats in  MC elections in 2001.

Earlier, there were strong rumors that Dhawan would join BJP as he was said to be in touch with BJP national general secretary Harmohan Dhawan. 

Addressing a joint press conference here Dhawan and former BJP MP Satya Pal Jain said that the alliance between both the parties is the first step for their long relationship. The general secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal Capt Kanwalj t Singh was also present in the press conference.

While replying a question on the sharing of the seats, Jain said that the decision will be taken after the draw of the reservation of seats for the women which is scheduled on November 3.

The sources said that during the recent visit of the Jaitely, last Friday, decision for the alliance was taken. The meeting was also attended by CVM general secretary Sandeep singh, BJP president Yaspal Mahajan and Satya Pal Jain.