New Delhi, Jan 24: Amidst coalition-building exercise ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh had a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence here and discussed the possibility of a tie-up for the coming electoral bout.

Emerging out of over 90-minute meeting with the AICC chief, the first direct contact between SP and Congress since efforts to firm up alliances got underway in right earnest a few weeks ago, Singh told reporters that he came to invite Gandhi to attend his birthday function on January 27 here.
He said he also discussed the political situation in the state and clarified that SP's stand was very clear not to join any front. "We are open to give and take support based on issues."
About a fortnight back, Gandhi had spoken to SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav over phone and sought a meeting with him on efforts to cobble a front to take on BJP-led NDA in the polls. The Congress provides outside support to Mulayam Singh Yadav government in UP.
The meeting between the two leaders assume significance in the backdrop of warming up ties between Congress and BSP, a key player in up electoral scene, and SP's refusal to be part of any combination which has in it Mayawati-led party.
The BSP has, however, kept the guessing game going about its stand on joining any front and left the decision to Mayawati.
With decks appearing to be cleared for the return of former UP chief minister Kalyan Singh, whose RKP is a constituent of Mulayam government, into BJP, other dominant players in the state, including SP and Congress, may be forced to redraw their strategies.
Bureau Report