Efforts to cobble up a fourth alternative in Uttar Pradesh -- one comprising the Jan Morcha, Rashtriya Lok Dal, the Communist Party of India, the Lok Janshakti and other like-minded parties are in advance stage, sources in the proposed front said on Saturday.
"Talks on seat sharing are more or less over. In principle, we have roughly decided the number of seats each of parties will be contesting," a source said.
However, sources added that the nitty-gritty of seat sharing, including allocation of constituencies are yet to be worked out.
With regard to alliance with the Congress, they said Jan Morcha chief Raj Babbar is in touch with the Congress leadership and is understood to have submitted the list of seats to be contested by Morcha and other allies.
Raj Babbar, who met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi last week, met Rahul Gandhi Friday and had a detailed discussion on the issue. "Babbar is also understood to have submitted the list of candidates/seats to be contested by Jan Morcha led allies," the source said.
As for seat sharing between Congress and Jan Morcha is concerned, they said there won't be any problem. "Whatever the formula worked out by the Congress leadership will be acceptable to Jan Morcha", the source said.
Asked as to how many seats Jan Morcha is expecting to contest, he said it could be between 150-170 seats.
The seat sharing arrangement between these parties was finalised when Jan Morcha chief Raj Babbar and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Captain Baldeo Singh had a meeting, the sources said.
However, they indicated that Rashtriya Lok Dal will be contesting between 70-80 assembly seats in western Uttar Pradesh, while CPI 20-22, Lok Janshakti Party 15. The sources did not disclosed as to how many seats the Jan Morcha and its ally -- United Democratic Front -- will be contesting.
Jan Morcha patron and former prime minister V P Singh is also in touch with various leaders to finalise seat-sharing arrangements as also poll strategies for the state to take on Mulayam Singh Yadav-led SP.
The alliance is seen as crucial in the Congress' bid to win around 50 seats so that it can play a decisive role in the post-poll scenario if the multi-cornered contests deliver a fractured verdict.