03-17-2009, 02:00 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Cong to contest over 60 seats </b>
Pioneer.com
Burying all hopes of a possible seat-sharing arrangement with the Samajwadi Party in the politically crucial State of Uttar Pradesh, the Congress has decided to go it alone. The party is likely to contest at least 60 seats in the State. The number could go up if the party finds more suitable candidates.
After months of dialogue and public mudslinging between the two parties, the Congress has decided to come out with its second list of candidates this week. So far, the Congress has declared candidates for 24 of the 80 parliamentary seats in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress had contested 73 seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls and had won a mere nine.
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi held a marathon meeting with Congress general secretary in-charge of UP Digvijay Singh, State unit president Rita Bahuguna-Joshi and CLP leader Pramod Tiwari on Sunday. According to sources, Rahul felt that it was now too late for an alliance with the SP as it would only mean an agreement in Delhi and no understanding at the grassroots.
The SP has already declared candidates for 74 seats. Sources said that in Sundayâs meeting, the Congress leaders felt that there was no option before the party but to contest on its own and look at a post-poll alliance depending on the numbers other political parties notched up.
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Pioneer.com
Burying all hopes of a possible seat-sharing arrangement with the Samajwadi Party in the politically crucial State of Uttar Pradesh, the Congress has decided to go it alone. The party is likely to contest at least 60 seats in the State. The number could go up if the party finds more suitable candidates.
After months of dialogue and public mudslinging between the two parties, the Congress has decided to come out with its second list of candidates this week. So far, the Congress has declared candidates for 24 of the 80 parliamentary seats in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress had contested 73 seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls and had won a mere nine.
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi held a marathon meeting with Congress general secretary in-charge of UP Digvijay Singh, State unit president Rita Bahuguna-Joshi and CLP leader Pramod Tiwari on Sunday. According to sources, Rahul felt that it was now too late for an alliance with the SP as it would only mean an agreement in Delhi and no understanding at the grassroots.
The SP has already declared candidates for 74 seats. Sources said that in Sundayâs meeting, the Congress leaders felt that there was no option before the party but to contest on its own and look at a post-poll alliance depending on the numbers other political parties notched up.
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