Congress rules out any alliance with SP in Uttar Pradesh

Asserting that the SP will continue to be its "rival" in the state, party's state president Nirmal Khatri said Congress will contest alone on all seats in the state in the 2014 general elections.

"Samajwadi Party itself decided to support the UPA government. Nobody requested for its support. It will continue to be Congress's political rival in the state" Khatri said.

Khatri, who was on a visit to the district, stressed that every single party worker, instead of waiting for the 'Sonia-Rahul' factor to work, should work hard to ensure party's success in Lok Sabha polls.

"Instead of banking on charisma of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi every time, workers should work hard to ensure party's success in Lok Sabha polls," Khatri said.

He blamed the previous organisational setup for party's debacle in the Assembly elections early this year and said there was no synergy between top and lower level of the party.

"Organisation was weak. There was no communication between the senior leaders and grassroots workers," he said.

Denying any irregularity in allocation of coal blocks, Khatri said the format adopted by the government was meant to ensure that steel and power are available to common people at cheaper rates.

On FDI in retail sector, he said the decision is in the interest of common people, farmers and consumers.