Cong,RLD nearing poll pact,Ajit to get central ministry

Congress has nearly finalised a seat-sharing deal with Ajit Singhs RLD for UP elections.

The Congress has nearly finalised a seat-sharing deal with Ajit Singhs Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

The RLD will contest around 50 seats and Ajit Singh will get a cabinet berth at the centre,it is learnt. He may not get his first choice agriculture because of the difficulty in moving out Sharad Pawar,but is likely to get something equally important. A formal announcement is likely soon.

Congress sources said the party would not withdraw any nomination that has already been announced. Singh had expressed unhappiness after the Congress announced a list of 73 candidates in August,including many in the RLDs home turf of western UP.

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State Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi said her party was also talking to the Apna Dal with which it might share a few seats,but we are not interested in having alliance with any other party.

The Congress announced a second list of 62 candidates on October 6; a third list of about 60 is planned around Diwali.

On the possible impact of Team Annas campaign against the Congress,Joshi said she was ignoring the statements made by Arvind Kejriwal. In Banda yesterday,he did not say anything against misrule and corruption in UP, she said.

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