NEW DELHI: The Samajwadi Party’s meagre seats’ offer to Congress is holding up informal discussions for an electoral understanding between the two parties in UP. Though SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has publicly rejected any alliance, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had mooted an alliance with the Congress to ensure a win in the UP elections. Akhilesh’s remarks led to both sides informally exploring an alliance.However, SP is not willing to part with more than 60 seats to the Congress in the 403-member assembly. “SP is offering 58 assembly seats to Congress,” a source confided on Thursday, referring to the secret talks between the two parties. The Congress, on the other hand, is looking for 100 seats, including 28 seats the party won in the 2012 polls and seats where the party secured more votes than SP.Incidentally, SP used this formula to stitch an alliance with the Kanshi Ram-led BSP in 1993 that saw the BJP failing to retain power after its government was dismissed following the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992.There was an attempt by Amar Singh to forge an SP-Congress alliance for the 2009 Lok Sabha polls but the SP was not willing to offer more than 16 seats against Congress’ demand for 24/80 seats from the state. The alliance did not materialise but the Congress managed to win 21 Lok Sabha seats, 5 more than what was offered. A strong section of SP led by Mulayam Singh Yadav is averse to any alliance with the Congress.