India, July 19 -- Imran Masood's criticism complicates alliance negotiations ahead of crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

New Delhi

With the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled for March or April next year, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) are facing early friction over alliance dynamics, with leaders from both sides trading barbs and senior Congress MP Imran Masood finding himself at the centre of the controversy after criticising the SP for remaining silent on issues concerning minorities.

Masood, the Lok Sabha MP from Saharanpur in western Uttar Pradesh, has come into the spotlight even before formal seat-sharing talks between the two parties have begun.

Following the Congress' appointment of Rajendra Pal Gaut...