“Congress-SP alliance in U.P. desirable”

NEW DELHI: Even as the Samajwadi Party maintained that there were no talks with the Congress on alliance, AICC general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh Digvijay Singh said on Saturday that it would be “desirable” for both to have seat adjustments in the State to defeat communal forces. Mr. Singh, who spearheaded the Congress’ hisab mango (give account) campaign against the Mayawati government, said the party would work out some kind of seat arrangement with the SP. He said the Congress had to strengthen itself in every Assembly and Parliamentary constituency. “But as a short-term measure, alliance with the SP is desirable. The SP is confined to Uttar Pradesh but it should be given credit for fighting and containing communal forces.” Indicating that talks had been on between the Congress and the SP for some time now, he... [read full story]