Even as a secular grand alliance, a la Bihar, remains a distant entity, political compulsions due to Rajya Sabha and legislative Council polls have brought the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya lok Dal and Congress closer.
Ajit Singh-led RlD with eight MlAs in UP Assembly is not in the fray for either elections.
Both the SP and the Congress need additional votes to ensure victory to their candidates and hence will leave no stones unturned to garner support from the RlD.
The present strength of the UP assembly is: SP -229, Congress -29, RlD 08, Peace Party- 4, Quami Ekta Dal-2, NCP-1, Apna Dal -1, Ethad-e-Millat Council- 1, All India Trinumool Congress-1, Independent 6 and nominated . The strength of the BSP is 80 and BJP 41.
Interestingly the 12th independent candidate for Rajya Sabha supported by BJP has hastened the process of 'coming together’ of secular parties.
The entry of Preeti Mahapatra as the 12th candidate has cast doubts over the fate of Congress candidate Kapil Sibal as he needs five additional first preference votes to reach the magical number of 34 first preference votes to sail through.
The seventh RS candidate of Samajwadi Party will also need additional nine first preference votes and the eighth SP candidate for legislative Council will need additional three first preference votes. Hence the votes of eight RlD legislators could be crucial for the victory of Sibal.
Political observers feel that if the three parties could put up a united front to win the RS and Council polls, then it could pave the way for their joining hands with a broad formation.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RlD chief Ajit Singh have held several rounds of talks in Delhi and arrived at a consensus on seat sharing for the 2017 Assembly polls.
SP sources said that talks with RlD will resume after the RS and Council polls and former MP and Ajit Singh's son Jayant Singh too will join the parleys after his return from abroad by June 6.