New Delhi, The ruling United Progressive Alliance government seems heading towards an early Lok Sabha election mode with Congress preparing to snap its ties with Samajwadi Party over the seat-sharing arrangement in politically sensitive state of Uttar Pradesh, which finally has failed.

The SP has also said it would take a decision on continuing its support to the UPA government after meeting Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on his return from abroad. Party general secretary Amar Singh has said it could be the last meeting of the coordination committee, which was set up to steer clear of disputes and other issues between the two parties.

According to highly placed Congress sources none other than Rahul Gandhi has told the party leaders who have been holding parleys with SP leaders that the Congress is not prepare to compromise on less than 23 seats in the next Lok Sabha elections. The party president Sonia Gandhi has also reportedly conveyed this decision to SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav when she met him at the VIP lounge of Lucknow airport where they held discussion for over 20 minutes two days back.

The seat-sharing talks between the two parties in Uttar Pradesh broke down in the last meeting when SP negotiators stuck to their position that not more than 12 seats could be given to Congress on any condition. However, general view, which prevailed among the state and central Congress leaders, was to stick to its stand of not settling on less than 23 seats. This situation led to a stalemate, which could result in a break-up as early as last meeting of the SP leaders with the Prime Minister.

The events that are unfolding following the failure of talks clearly suggest that the Congress has made up its mind to go for an early election as after the approval of Indo-US civilian nuclear deal by the US House of Representatives party is in an upbeat mood and is all set to hold Lok Sabha elections either in February or early April.

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