SP threatens to oppose Cong in some LS seats in UP

Further toughening its posture, Samajwadi Party on Saturday threatened to field candidates against Congress in some Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh while Congress hit back saying it was ready to contest all 80 seats in the state if there was no alliance with SP.

Congress, which has already come out with its first list of 24 candidates for UP, also said it might out come out with another list of nominees in case the tie-up with SP did not materialize.

At the same time, SP said it will support Congress in constituencies where the latter appears stronger to defeat BJP and BSP.

"If they are putting up candidates in our sitting seats simply because they have candidates for some seats, then we can also think about doing so," SP general secretary Amar Singh told reporters here a day after he had accused Congress of killing the alliance.

Singh, whose party is agitated by the announcement of 24 candidates by Congress in the state, said, "The alliance is broken but not from our side".

"I don't want to insult Congress, but it should assess its status in the state," Singh said.

"On seats where Congress would appear stronger than my party, SP would support it against BSP and BJP," he said.