In yet another big jolt to the I.N.D.I.A bloc, the ongoing talks between the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress regarding the poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh have reached a dead end, sources said. Talks continued till late night between Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav regarding the seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections but no consensus could be reached. The SP has already announced 27 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the two separate lists. Sitting MP Dimple Yadav has been fielded from Mainpuri, while party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq will contest from Sambhal.
According to sources, the Congress wanted a few changes to the list of 17 candidates that the Samajwadi Party had sent. However, the UP-based regional party is not in favour of any change.
The Congress party wants Moradabad, Saharanpur, Bijnor, Meerut, Amroha and Lucknow constituencies but the Samajwadi Party is not willing to give these seats to the 'Grand Old Party', sources added. The Samajwadi Party claims that the Congress is changing its list again and again. On the other hand, the Congress says that out of the seventeen seats given by the SP, the party wants to field five to six of its candidates on the Congress symbol.
However, Congress GS KC Venugopal reiterated that the SP-Cong alliance is still on. "It is in final stage. Any time it can be finalised. Discussion is going on. Congress President has appointed a team. They are discussing."
Reacting to the issue, SP leader Dimple Yadav said, "We have already decided where the Samajwadi Party will contest elections and I believe that the Samajwadi Party is going to face the BJP with strength. Senior leaders are in talks."
