New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) With Lok Sabha polls not far away,

the issue of alliance in six major states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, is expected to figure during the meeting Rahul Gandhi will have with state Congress leaders this week. The meeting with PCC presidents and CLP leaders on February 15 also assumes significance as Assembly elections are due this year in nine states. Congress is in direct contest with BJP in five states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Delhi, besides Karnataka. Gandhi, who has been recently elevated as Vice-President of the party, could pay special attention to the problems and prospects in the six major states as they together account for some 291 seats in the Lok Sabha, more than half of its total strength of 543. While Uttar Pradesh has 80 seats, Maharashtra has 48, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have 42 each, Bihar 40 and Tamil Nadu 39. Congress has already begun search for new allies and friends to help it retain power for a third consecutive time by constituting a sub-group on pre-poll alliances headed by Defence Minister A K Antony. The sub-group had its first meeting last week. The sub-group is part of the Congress Election Coordination Committee which is headed by Gandhi. Gandhi's interaction with the PCC chiefs has been planned to understand first hand the state of the organisation in the states.