India, Uttar Pradesh Oct 29: Something similar to the Bihar poles might happen. This is what the Samajwadi party is expecting just before the election, Grand Alliance. There are talks of a grand alliance and it is getting louder and the most important question is who will put the bell in the cats neck. Will it be Akhilesh or will it be Shivpal.

While Mulayam's brother, Shivpal Yadav has been assigned the task of forming the grand alliance, it is still not clear if the JD(U) and the Congress would be part of it. In fact sources indicate that the JD(U) is expecting a split in the Samajwadi Party and NItish is still upset with Mulayam Singh Yadav after the latter had jeopardised his attempt to bring together the erstwhile Janata Dal at the time of the Bihar elections. But politics changes too soon.

The fight in the SP is far from over. In  a campaign video of Akhilesh Yadav put out yesterday , it did not even feature, Mulayam in it. These are clear indications that all is still not well in the SP family. Sources say that there is a section in both the Congress as well the JD(U) which is expecting the SP to split ahead of the polls.

If Akhilesh splits the party, then JD (U), Congress, Rashtriya Lok Dal and other small parties could come together and back Akhilesh. While the Congress has for now said no to any grand alliance being engineered by Shivpal, things may be different if the party splits.

The decision by the JD(U) would largely depend on Nitish Kumar. If Kumar decides to join the alliance then the RLD too would follow suit as the two parties are already in a tie up in UP.

Nitish Kumar had to say about Akhilesh, He had said that Akhilesh is a young and energetic leader. He has performed well. If he wants to come out of his family's shadow and emerge a winner then he will have got implement prohibition in UP, Nitish Kumar had also said. It is chances that Nitish will go with Akhilesh, if samajwadi party splits in any case in UP.

 If Akhilesh decides to float his own party, then he will need the support of both the Congress and the JD(U). For one a truck with the Congress would ensure that the Muslim votes are not split. Even if the Congress does decide to choose a faction, it would go with Akhilesh and this is to do with the close equation he shares with Rahul Gandhi.

Shivpal Yadav, is desperately trying to stitch up the alliance. It is a contest before a contest at the moment. The person who succeeds in forming this alliance would be the real winner in the SP ahead of the elections.

While Akhilesh has not reacted to any of these developments, Shivpal appears to be moving pillar and post to ensure that the alliance is formed because of him.

There was in fact a meeting between Shivpal and Congress poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Wednesday. However K C Tyagi the JD(U) leader at whose residence this meeting was held dismissed suggestions that the meet was to stitch up an alliance.

Prior to this Shivpal had sent out invitations to leaders from four parties for the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the SP to be held in November. He sent invitations to
 Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav of the JD(U), Laloo Prasad Yadav of the RJD, Ajit Singh and Jayant Choudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal and H D Deve Gowda of the Janata Dal (Secular).

The chances of the Grand Alliance is much high, than in case of Bihar election.