Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav flanked by party's general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav (L) and party vi... Read More

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party on Saturday dropped hints that it was open to an alliance with Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh for the assembly elections slated to be held later this year.

The issue came up for discussion at the party's national executive meeting in Lucknow on Saturday where the members authorised party president Akhilesh Yadav to take a final call on tie-ups and seat-sharing in these states.

Asked if alliance with Congress was discussed, SP principal general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said: "I am here to tell you about the decisions, not the discussions that took place."

Members who were part of the national executive, however, said: "We don't have sitting MLAs in these three states, so Congress, which is the principal opposition there, has to initiate talk of alliance," said a member. Sources said some members at the meeting expressed their reservations. "The problem is the number of seats that SP will have to spare in case of an alliance because if we join hands with Congress, we will have to share seats from the quota that we are left with after giving away BSP's share," a party member said.

