New Delhi, Tuesday 02 Sep 2008: Alliance talks between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh made a good start on Monday but the shadow of a collapse remained in the backdrop with signs that differences could widen in future rounds over crucial seats that would have to be sacrificed by both sides.

The SP, led by party general secretary Amar Singh sought to extend the alliance to four other states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Karnataka during the three-hour long first round in which the Congress side was represented by party general secretary Rahul Gandhi along with AICC general secretary Dig Vijay Singh and UPCC chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

“Just like Congress is asking for more seats in UP, despite being weak there, similarly we also asked them to help us in states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Karnataka, where we have a marginal presence,” Amar Singh said. “Though Digvijay Singh and Rita are not authorised to speak about any other state apart from UP, I took the advantage of Rahul’s presence and sought the Congress’ alliance in other states also,” he added. The Congress leadership, though, did not seem eager to extend the alliance with Digvijay Singh contending on Monday evening that the discussions were only in context with Uttar Pradesh.