Looking to capitalise on note ban issue, Cong wants tie-up with SP for UP polls

Lucknow: Sniffing a chance because of demonetisation, Congress leaders of Uttar Pradesh are inclined towards an alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party as they feel it will decisively halt BJP and bolster its prospects in the upcoming Assembly polls.

The party, which has been out of power in the politically important state for 27 years and has tried its best to revive its electoral fortunes by pushing its vice president Rahul Gandhi to hold a 'kisan yatra' across the state, is believed to be open to a "respectable" seat-sharing formula to tie up with SP for the elections.

"The aim and target of Congress is not just to halt BJP in Uttar Pradesh but also in the country for which it believes that all parties having similar ideology need to come together," a senior leader said.

Amid reports of possibility of such an alliance, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said if such a tie-up fructifies, it would win over 300 seats.

"Though Samajwadis are going to form majority government in the state, if an alliance takes place, it will win over 300 (of the 403) seats. The final decision in this regard will be taken by party National president (Mulayam Singh Yadav)," he said when asked about possibility of his party's alliance with Congress.

Though no senior Congress leader was forthcoming on the issue of alliance, the UP poll scenario was discussed threadbare at a recent high level meeting with Rahul Gandhi,

Priyanka, UPCC President Raj Babbar and AICC general secretary incharge of UP Ghulam Nabi Azad in Delhi.

"We had successfully tried this formula in Bihar and halted the march of the BJP...and now after the negative wave against it post demonetisation, we find such an experience could be repeated in UP," the leader said on condition of anonymity.

Another leader said, "In politics, all possibilities need to be explored."