If Cong wants tie-up, we can consider: BSP’s Alvi

His boss has made noises to this effect but not spelled it out yet. But BSP’s parliamentary party leader Rashid Alvi said today if the Congress ‘‘proposes an electoral alliance for the coming Assembly elections and the general election next year, the BSP will certainly consider the proposal.’’ Ruling out any alliance with the BJP, he said: ‘‘It is out of the question now.’’

The statement comes after weeks of suspense with Mayawati herself blowing hot and cold over a pre-electoral alliance with either national parties. But talks have begun in full earnest between the two parties, though Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Mayawati are yet to meet on the electoral alliance issue. Asked about Alvi’s remark, Congress spokesperson Jaipal Reddy said: ‘‘There is no proposal before the Congress as of now.’’

The two parties had come together in 1996 in UP with not much to write home about for either.

This time, however, party strategists on both sides are pinning their hopes on the changed circumstances in the state, where the BSP has come to power three times. The strategy is straightforward: An alliance could help the Congress retain power in the crucial states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh while in the Lok Sabha election next year, a Congress-BSP partnership could help both make considerable gains in the state.