New Delhi: Congress and Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) on Wednesday finalised the seat-sharing for the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh and Congress in-charge for Gujarat Mohan Prakash held talks with the RLD chief.
The meet took place after Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had deliberations with UP Congress leaders over the issue of sharing of seats with RLD which wields considerable influence in Western UP.
When contacted, Digvijaya Singh said "most of the issues have been resolved in today's meet".
A formal announcement of the tie-up between the two parties is expected later this week, said Congress sources.
RLD was demanding close to 70 seats but is likely to be given not more than 50. In the last round of discussions, the differences were mainly on five to six seats on which Congress has already decided its candidates but RLD wanted them to be withdrawn.
Once the alliance is formally in place, Ajit Singh is likely to find his way into the union council of ministers.
The RLD chief was learnt to be interested in getting the Agriculture portfolio, now held by NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, but chances of his getting this berth are remote.
There are, however, talks that Singh could be given the Industry portfolio with some addition, sources said.
Rahul Gandhi will hit the UP campaign trail from the first week of November when Congress' Jan Sampark Abhiyan begins there and hence the tie-up is likely to be formalised by this month-end.
Congress has already released two lists of its nominees for the UP polls.
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