Congress says it is in talks with SP

"Serious talks are going on between Samajwadi Party and Congress for an alliance. Seat sharing has been discussed and both parties have almost come to a settlement on the issue," state Congress leader

New Delhi, Dec 19 The Congress and Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party are likely to strike an alliance for the coming assembly polls, a Congress leader said on Monday.

"Serious talks are going on between Samajwadi Party and Congress for an alliance. Seat sharing has been discussed and both parties have almost come to a settlement on the issue," a state Congress leader who did not want to be named told IANS.

According to the leader, the Samajawadi Party had agreed to offer the Congress 110 of the total 403 assembly seats. The Samajwadi Party now holds 229 seats, the principal opposition Bahujan Samaj Party has 80 while the Congress has 29 legislators. The talks between the two parties have been going on for some time now.

Speculations about a possible alliance were rife after Congress poll strategist Prashant Kishor met Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Akhilesh Yadav had on December 2 said a Samajwadi-Congress combine can win over 300 seats in Uttar Pradesh. He also asserted that his party would not perceive the Congress as a "junior partner" in an alliance.

IANS