UP Elections 2017: Sonia Gandhi asks Ahmed Patel and Ghulam Nabi Azad to salvage SP-Cong alliance talks

Congress and Samajwadi Party talks broke down on Saturday as both of them were unable to reach any consensus on seat-sharing arrangements. Sources in the Congress said  that SP was very rigid on number of issues. “They were even very rigid on seats from Amethi and Rai Barelli,” said a source involved in hectic negotiations. Sources also said that SP wanted to contest from many seats which had sitting Congress MLAs. This demand was clearly unacceptable to the grand old party.

SP was initially willing to give 121 seats to Congress but later the number came down to 99. Sources say that Congress was ready for compromise and was willing to contest from 110 seats but SP played hardball. “Akhilesh Yadav kept on changing the goal post. He told us that he needs to accommodate those who have stood by him,” said a source.

Meanwhile, the Congress also prepared a list of 350 candidates with alliance talks going downhill. Sources indicate that Rahul Gandhi’s office by afternoon alerted all the probable candidates to contest the elections. The remaining 50-plus seats are expected to be given to smaller parties by the Congress who enjoy influence in small pockets 

Congress sources involved in negotiation also felt that SP kept them guessing till end  as part of the strategy. Priyanka Vadra and Rahul Gandhi were personally involved in the negotiations  but despite that talks failed. According to sources both leaders are miffed with Akhilesh turning down their offer. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has apparently told senior leaders Ahmed Patel and Ghulam Nabi Azad to salvage the alliance.