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No alliance with Samajwadi Party, says Congress

The Congress today ruled out an alliance with the Samajwadi Party for the mid-term poll to the Lok Sabha, since it said that party had blocked the formation of an alternative government after the fall of the BJP ruling coalition.

Talking to newspersons, party spokesperson Arjun Singh made it clear that the party would not go in for 'unequal alliances' and would decide the issue in consultation with the state units. The ultimate decision in the matter will be taken by the party's working committee, he added.

The Congress had seat adjustments with the Samajwadi Party in Maharashtra during the last Lok Sabha elections.

Asked about the relations with the left parties after CPI-M general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet's outbursts against the party, the spokesperson said, ''We will continue to have friendly relations with them.''

Singh parried questions on the Congress's preference of dates for the general elections, saying that the issue would be decided by the President and the Election Commission. The party's views in this regard will be conveyed to the commission when it holds consultations with political parties.

UNI

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