Stung by the BJP's refusal to concede even one seat to it, the Lok Shakti today decided to field candidates in all four states going to the polls.

Leaders made it clear that though their party was a BJP ally at the Centre, the Lok Shakti would highlight the failure of the BJP-ruled Governments of Delhi and Rajasthan. Rising prices of essential commodities is to be a major issue.

``BJP leaders strung us along till the last and then refused on the ground that we had no base. We will show them what base we have,'' said an angry Delhi leader.

According to Lok Shakti vice-president M Raghupati, BJP leaders -- including Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and party president Kushabhau Thakre -- had indicated that some understanding could be worked out. ``They asked us to give them a list of constituencies we were interested in, which we did. But thenthere was no proper response. So we decided to contest on our own,'' he said.

Releasing the list of party candidates for the polls, he said his party would adopt a positive approach during electioneering. ``Our campaign will not be against any party. We will oppose the Congress. Our options with that party are closed,'' he said.

Expressing concern at the murder of Samata Party candidate for the Delhi Assembly poll, Raghupati demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the incident.

Asked whether his party like the Trinamool Congress would observe December 6 as `black day' to protest demolition of the Babri mosque, he said ``We will discuss this with Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee and the BJP.''

The Lok Shakti had agreed to settle for three seats in Delhi (against the original demand for 10) and had also told the BJP that it would put up candidates only in seats where the BJP had lost last time. But now since talks have failed, the Lok Shakti has decided to engage in a direct contest withboth the Congress and the BJP, he said.

The party has fielded 18 candidates in Delhi, 17 in Rajasthan, 10 in Madhya Pradesh and 14 in Mizoram.