The alliance between the Congress and the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections hit an obstacle on Saturday as both parties failed reach a consensus on allotment of seats.
Late on Saturday, even as the parleys between the two parties appeared to collapse, Congress President Sonia Gandhi intervened and spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on the phone.
While the SP leaders hinted that the alliance was "almost over", Congress on the other side seemed hopeful on the talks.
The prospect of the alliance dimmed when SP refused to budge from its offer of around 99 of 403 seats which the Congress rejected saying it would not agree at anything below 110.
Even as reports emerged that the Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) had decided to go it alone in the first and second phases of the seven-phase assembly elections in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, party sources said Sonia's intervention will surely boost the alliance prospects.
"Everything will be clear by tomorrow (Sunday) morning. The Congress might agree on 100-103 seats. Both the parties know they need each other in Uttar Pradesh polls," a party sources said.
Earlier on Saturday, talking about the alliance, senior SP leader Naresh Agrawal said, "The alliance is almost over. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister (Akhilesh Yadav) was offering Congress 100 seats but they were not agreeing to anything less than 120 seats."
"We told them we can't fight in less than 300 seats but the Congress was adamant as if they are a very influential party in the state," he added.
Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary in charge of UP Ghulam Nabi Azad said: "You'll get to know everything by tomorrow (Sunday) morning."
Congress state President Raj Babbar said during the day: "The talks will go on."
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra too are reported to be working on "some possibilities".
The Gandhi family scion is said to be furious at the "slight and disrespect" shown to the Congress by the SP leadership.
