India, Oct. 4 -- Following the formation of a new team for Uttar Pradesh, the collapse of the Congress party's alliance with the Samajwadi Party appears almost certain. The Congress has adopted the SP's "PDA" political strategy by wooing Pandits, Dalits, and Alpsankhyak (minorities) voters, and is thus eyeing the same vote bank for future growth. In the process it is also demanding an impossibly high number of seats from the SP, which is bound to strain the alliance. All this is being seen as a build-up for the Congress to part ways and contest the elections independently, with an eye on the future.

While analysts believe the alliance might still be salvaged at the last minute if Congress secures 100 seats to contest, but the Samajwadi P...