Cong firms poll tie-up with SP

The Congress will contest the coming Lok Sabha elections in a pre-poll seat adjustment with Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, but as a junior partner, which could affect its chances of being able to form a government in future.

According to party sources, the Congress is preparing to contest only around 30 out of the 80 seats of the Lok Sabha in the state. The rest will be contested by SP where the Congress is expected to lend a supporting hand.

The Congress had fought the 2004 General Election alone in UP, contesting in 73 seats. It won in just 9 seats, while the party candidates forfeited their security deposit in as many as 48 seats. The SP contested 68 seats and won 35.

The seat-sharing arrangement was a part of the deal struck with SP in return for its support to save the government at the Centre after the Left pulled the rug over the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

Top sources in the Congress suggest that the party is not even in a position to field suitable candidate in more than 30 seats. A few weeks back, UP Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi met Sonia Gandhi where she presented a seat-wise analysis of the party's strength in the state.

Congress' calculations say that an electoral alliance will benefit both the sides, currently reeling under the ascendance of Mayawati in UP. “We will be able to easily win at least five more seats than the last time if the SP votes are transferred to our candidates. The SP will also be in a better position to fight Mayawati with our support,” says a senior Congress leader.

Although party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has in the past said he would like to see the party contest the UP elections independently, he too, according to sources, has realised that in the current political situation in UP, it will not be prudent to contest elections alone.

Instead of simultaneously opening up three fronts — BSP, SP and BJP — the Congress can make a tactical move by aligning with SP in taking up a combined effort against Mayawati.

Gandhi's recent meetings with SP General Secretary Amar Singh had also discussed the possibility of such an alliance.