Congress still hopes for alliance in UP

Despite the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party refusing to enter into an alliance with the party in Uttar Pradesh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi is still hopeful that opposition parties would put up a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party in the politically crucial state.

"The situation is not final. (But) If we cannot ally with other parties, we are absolutely prepared to go it alone without any fear," she told reporters in Delhi on Monday.

Also Read Samajwadi Party shuts door on Congress 'Mayawati doing what BJP is telling her' Sonia to vacate Amethi for Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi described as 'most unfair' the reported statement of SP general secretary Amar Singh that the Congress had closed all options for a secular alliance.

"From the beginning, I have been calling on leaders of all like-minded parties (for an alliance)," she said.

She did not attach much significance to the Samajwadi Party's decision to field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, saying, "These things happen in elections."

She is contesting from Rae Bareli and her son Rahul from Amethi.