New Delhi: In a significant development, Samajwadi Party today (May 16, 2004) joined Left parties and Congress' pre-poll allies at a meeting convened by Sonia Gandhi to discuss Government formation.

SP general secretary Amar Singh, whose party was not a pre-poll ally of Congress, drove to Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence along with Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPM) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet, who has been advocating entry of Samajwadi Party into the alliance.

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Political Parties in India

The Samajwadi Party led by Mulayam Singh Yadav has 36 MPs.

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh, who is an ally of SP, is also attending the meeting.

RLD has three MPs.