Mumbai: Ruling out any tie-up with Congress in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) today (Mar 29, 2004) said its options for an alliance with Congress in Maharashtra were open.

"SP is keen to have alliance with Congress in Maharashtra if party is allotted three seats in the State," party general secretary Amar Singh said.

However, the party once again ruled out any alliance with Congress in Uttar Pradesh, as SP has already declared its candidates for the Lok Sabha constituencies in UP, Singh said.

"SP has kept its door open for alliance in Maharashtra" and "at least this time, Congress should clear its stand or SP will contest along with the newly formed third front by contesting 20 seats," he said.

"If Congress had proposed 15 days ago, then it could have been possible to jointly fight the communal forces in UP," Singh said adding, "It is too late for Congress to have alliance with SP in Uttar Pradesh."

"The onus for the failure of alliance between Congress and SP in UP is totally on Congress," Singh added.