<div align="justify"> After days of hectic negotiations, the Congress and Samajwadi Party today forged a pre-poll alliance to contest the UP Assembly polls together.<br /><br />Queering the pitch for BJP and BSP, the two parties today reached a seat-sharing agreement with Congress likely to contest around 103 seats and the SP about 300.<br /><br />The talks between top Congress and SP leaders had been going on for last several days for but got delayed as the two parties engaged in tough bargain.<br /><br />sources also said the alliance materialised after Congress President Sonia Gandhi intervened.<br /><br />According to sources, top leaders of both the parties finalised the seat sharing arrangement late last night and a formal announcement in this regard was likely to be made in Lucknow this evening.<br /><br />Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel had earlier tweeted: "Discussion was at highest level- CM (UP), GS I/C & Priyanka Gandhi."<br /><br />There are 403 Assembly seats in UP, election for which would be held in seven phases starting February 11.<br /><br />The last phase of the poll would take place on March 8. Counting would be held on March 11.</div>
<div align="justify"> After days of hectic negotiations, the Congress and Samajwadi Party today forged a pre-poll alliance to contest the UP Assembly polls together.<br /><br />Queering the pitch for BJP and BSP, the two parties today reached a seat-sharing agreement with Congress likely to contest around 103 seats and the SP about 300.<br /><br />The talks between top Congress and SP leaders had been going on for last several days for but got delayed as the two parties engaged in tough bargain.<br /><br />sources also said the alliance materialised after Congress President Sonia Gandhi intervened.<br /><br />According to sources, top leaders of both the parties finalised the seat sharing arrangement late last night and a formal announcement in this regard was likely to be made in Lucknow this evening.<br /><br />Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel had earlier tweeted: "Discussion was at highest level- CM (UP), GS I/C & Priyanka Gandhi."<br /><br />There are 403 Assembly seats in UP, election for which would be held in seven phases starting February 11.<br /><br />The last phase of the poll would take place on March 8. Counting would be held on March 11.</div>