Congress eyeing tie-up with parties like SP, BSP

Making a strong pitch for pre-poll alliances, Khurshid said that in the matter of tie-ups, the approach should be one of 8220;planned parenthood instead of chance parenthood8221;.

Suggesting that the doors of the alliance were open to parties of all hues barring the saffron brigade, he said in such an arrangement only the BJP will be in the 8220;negative list8221;.

In an interview to PTI, Khurshid sought to extend the olive branch to the Samajwadi Party, saying the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led party 8220;became allergic to us and we were never allergic to them8221;.

Seeking to go the extra mile to woo the Mayawati-led BSP, he said that party can be a 8220;very valued passenger8221; in the 8220;big train that is going to travel fast with a powerful engine8221;.

8220;They have to decide whether they want to board the train,8221; he said, referring to Uttar Pradesh8217;s ruling party, whose victory in polls in the key state is being regarded as a defining moment in Indian politics.

Khurshid8217;s refrain is that there could be differences with these parties on specific issues, but not on basic ideology. There has been no fixed formula for an alliance but this could be evolved through a dialogue, he said.