Dialogue is continuing over alliance with Congress, Akhilesh will take final call: SP

As the Congress and Samajwadi Party alliance seems to be on the brink of collapse ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, SP leader Gaurav Bhatia said the dialogue is continuing and state Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will take the final call regarding it.

"All speculation would be put to rest very soon and we would also like to focus on the elections. Akhilesh Yadav will take the final call in this," Bhatia told ANI.

Bhatia further said that the dialogue is continuing between both the parties and something concrete would be come out of it very soon.

The alliance between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party failed to take place over the matter of seat distribution, as the former was demanding more seats than the latter for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

Speaking to ANI, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal yesterday said Akhilesh Yadav was offering 100 seats, but the Congress was not ready for less than 120 seats.

The Congress, however, did not confirm the breakup and continued to remain vague over an alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

Uttar Pradesh Congress President Raj Babbar said that they will fight on all the seats of the first and second phase and added that there is no obstruction while having discussion on the alliance.

According to sources, the main bone of contention between the two parties emerged when the Congress wanted more seats in Rae Bareli and Amethi constituencies, the stronghold of the Gandhi family, whereas the Samajwadi Party was unwilling to field their 'failed' candidates on the same.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will release the party's manifesto at 11 a.m. today in Lucknow.