Chances bright for Cong-SP ties in UP

Akhilesh is keen on an alliance with Congress, saying the parties together could net more than 300 of the state’s 403 seats, though Mulayam is opposed to such partnership and had ruled out a tie-up with any party. Congress has, however, not ruled out the possibility of a pre-poll alliance with like-minded parties like Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and its chief ministerial face Sheila Dikshit has gone to the extent of offering to step aside in favour of young Akhilesh. Reports were doing the rounds that Akhilesh was likely to meet Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Delhi early next week and a deal could be struck. Soon after the announcement of poll schedule, Congress spokesman Shaktisinh said the party has kept its options open to ally with Samajwadi Party to stop ‘fascist’ forces from coming to power. 

On her part, Dikshit said, “There are unconfirmed reports of an alliance with Samajwadi Party. If that happens, certainly I would like to see a young chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.” If there is an alliance between Congress and SP, the results would be good, she said, though Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad did not openly advocate alliance with any party for the coming polls.

“As of now, we are working on the recommendations of the screening committee for all the 403 seats in the state. What can happen in future will be known in time. But there is a lot of pressure on secular parties (for alliance),” he had said on Wednesday. Talks for an alliance with Congress had hit a roadblock with Mulayam ruling out such a possibility and favouring only merger of parties with SP. With the Akhilesh faction breaking away from the parent Samajwadi Party, the possibility of an alliance with Congress has suddenly brightened. 

As Muslims, the traditional vote bank of Samajwadi Party, appeared to be a confused lot, BSP supremo Mayawati is eyeing the minority community, giving a lion’s share of tickets to Muslims, to bolster her party’s electoral prospects. Realising this, SP might join hands with Congress to bring about a greater consolidation of Muslim voters that should boost the allies in terms of countering BSP. Meanwhile on Friday, Shivpal Yadav held talks with defiant nephew Akhilesh at his residence here on a ‘compromise formula’ for a possible patch-up. Party insiders were tight-lipped on what transpired at the brief meeting Shivpal had with Akhilesh.