SP, Congress clinch poll alliance in UP

TIL Desk/National/UP/Capping days of feverish parleys, Congress and Samajwadi Party today forged an alliance to contest the UP Assembly polls together. At a joint press conference here, leaders the two parties said SP will contest 298 of the 403 seats and Congress the remaining 105.

“SP and Congress have forged an alliance and will contest UP assembly polls together,” SP state president Naresh Uttam told the hurriedly convened media briefing. UP PCC chief Raj Babbar hoped the SP-Congress alliance will reap a bumper electoral harvest in the state and fulfil aspriations of all sections of the society.

Sources said the alliance materialised after Congress President Sonia Gandhi intervened. They said top leaders of both the parties finalised the seat sharing arrangement around wee hours today. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel had earlier tweeted: “Discussion was at highest level- CM (UP), GS I/C & Priyanka Gandhi.”

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel had earlier tweeted: “Discussion was at highest level- CM (UP), GS I/C & Priyanka Gandhi.” Prospects of forming of an alliance between Samajwadi Party and Congress for the Uttar Pradesh polls had run into rough weather, with both parties hardening their stance over the number of seats.