Congress may contest 66-68 seats in UP

Claiming that the Congress party may contest from 66-68 seats of the total 80 seats in the state, senior party leader Digvijay Singh today said that that "this time there was an undercurrent in their favour."  

"We may contest from 66-68 seats of 80 Lok Sabha parliamentary constituencies in the state. The party had announced candidates for 56 seats and names of candidates for another 10-12 constituencies will be finalised in next couple of days," Singh told reporters. 

"Some decisions taken by the UPA government like the waiver of 72,000 crore loan of the farmers has increased people's attraction towards Congress. We are getting good signals and the party had already kick started its campaign," said Singh, who is incharge of elections in Uttar Pradesh.   

He said that the party has decided not to field candidates against SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav.

Regarding pre-poll alliance with parties in UP, Singh said that the party was willing to contest the Lok Sabha in an alliance with the Samajwadi Party.  

"We had some reservations over five seats on which senior Congress leaders were contesting. But then we are ready for a friendly fight. Rest of the seats are open for agreement (with SP)," he said.