Ending days of speculation, the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Wednesday announced it will not contest assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

"JD-U will not contest in Uttar Pradesh to ensure the defeat of communal forces by minimizing the chances of split in secular votes," JD-U national spokesperson K.C Tyagi told the media.

Tyagi said the party took the decision after its leaders agreed "not to split the anti-BJP votes".

But he expressed displeasure over the failure to forge a Bihar-like Grand Alliance in Uttar Pradesh.

Last year, Nitish Kumar addressed nearly half a dozen public meetings in Uttar Pradesh with the hope of contesting the assembly polls.