Sp To Form Govt In Up With Cong, Says Leader

The Samajwadi Partys UP state president, Ram Sunder Das, said yesterday in Lucknow that talks were underway with Congress leaders to form an alliance with the Congress to form a government in the state. However, other SP leaders said they didnt think the alliance would take off.

SP leaders seem to be working on a plan aimed at severing the ties between the Congress and the BSP, while keeping their own MLAs in good humour. Newly-elected MLAs do not want another election and SP leaders are trying to convince them that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Das said that the idea of an alliance, which was mooted by senior Congress leader Sharad Pawar, had widespread support in the Congress. SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav had held talks with Congress president Sitaram Kesari in this regard, he revealed.

However, the Punjab Assembly election results (which could embarass the Congress) could have a bearing on the talks over UP. The Congress leadership is much more concerned with the national level and want an ally in SP for their future claim for power at Centre.

Even some SP leaders point out that the state unit of the Congress is against an alliance with the SP, although Das plays this down.

Referring to the recent statement on Congress-BSP ties by state congress president Jitendra Prasada, Das said that only Prasada and BSP general secretary Mayawati were talking of the existence of that alliance. Even BSP president Kanshi Ram had gone on record saying that BSP has severed its ties with the Congress, he said.

Expressing optimism over the SPs chances in the coming by-polls to five assembly seats in the state, Das said his party was confident of winning maximum seats. The party had won two seats out of the five which go to polls on February 7.