Cong treads cautiously on tie-up with Sukh Ram

‘‘There can be many options. There can be tactical seat adjustments or even post-poll considerations,’’ a senior party leader pointed out. ‘‘While unofficially there can be an understanding, it is not the right time to have an open alliance.’’

The party is planning a series of public meetings in the state beginning on January 17 at Solan, on January 18 in Drang, January 19 in Hamirput and on January 20 in Dharamshala. Senior Congress leaders like Bhajan Lal, Amrinder Singh and Motilal Vora would be taking part in these meetings.

Party general-secretary in-charge of Himachal Pradesh Mohsina Kidwai said, ‘‘We are starting the election meetings soon and every senior leader will be involved in the arrangements.’’ Kidwai maintained that there was nothing to comment on the issue of an alliance with Sukh Ram. She said, ‘‘It is only after these meetings are over that the opinion of these leaders can be sough.”

Party sources, meanwhile, feel that the Third Front floated by Sukh Ram could eat into the vote-banks of not just the Congress but also the BJP.

While a lot may depend on the nature of the candidates being fielded by Sukh Ram, it is felt that there would be pressure on both the Congress and BJP to consider covert, if not overt, seat-sharing with the Third Front.