Cong yearns for 25 seats in UP; SP offers only 17

New Delhi, Mar 2: UP Congress President Rita Bahuguna Joshi said on Monday, Mar 2 that the party would like to contest at least 25 seats in the Uttar Pradesh.

Talking to the reporters here, she expressed her confidence that a consensus would be reached with Samajwadi Party, the alliance partner.

The Samajwadi Chief Mulayam Singh and party General Secretary Amar Singh had met Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Mar 1 and clarified that their party would not give more than 17 seats to the Congress.

The issue remain unresolved.

Shortly before the crucial meeting, Yadav had told reporters, "We are willing to give 15 seats to Congress though they should be getting 12 (seats)...we will be glad if an alliance would be formed."

Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said, "SP began the talks by offering only 12 seats, while the Congress wanted at least 25. We could reach a consensus on a figure which is between these two numbers."

Khurshid expressed the hope that an alliance is possible in the state as deliberations are being conducted at the highest level.

ANI