THE SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said yesterday that in the event of a "total and absolute end to IRA violence" the SDLP would discuss electoral strategy with Sinn Fein.
While a channel of communication is said to remain open between the British government and republicans there is still a significant chasm between the two.
They are understood to be deadlocked over a date for Sinn Fein's entry to talks following a ceasefire. Decommissioning and a timeframe for talks are also impeding progress.
But if there is an opportunity for some form of accommodation between the two sides the prospect of an electoral pact could be an incentive for the IRA to restore its ceasefire sometime before polling on May 1st.
Mr Hume said yesterday that in such an eventuality the SDLP would discuss the possibility of a pact with Sinn Fein which could yield between six and eight seats for the two parties.
He added however that Sinn Fein's abstentionist policy would pose a problem.
"What is the point of standing for election when candidates won't take their seats?" asked Mr Hume at a press conference in Belfast where the SDLP set out its objectives for the first 100 days of the next Westminster parliament.
In light of Wednesday's IRA bomb attacks in Wilmslow, England he insisted that any pact would depend on an unequivocal end to IRA violence.
In a challenge to republicans, Mr Hume added: "If you are looking for human and civil rights for all our people how can you justify trying to achieve that by undermining the right to life?"
When asked would a pre election IRA ceasefire not be viewed cynically and thus place a credibility problem over any subsequent pact, Mr Hume said the matter remained one of speculation.
Informed observers said yesterday that while a confidential line of contact was still open between the British government and republicans a gulf remains between the two over terms for a new cessation.
Earlier this week the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, confirmed there is still private contact between the British government and republicans.
He indicated however that the setting of a date for Sinn Fein's entry to talks following an IRA ceasefire was the main point of contention between the two sides.
While the North's political development minister, Mr Michael Ancram, repeated this week that there would be "no undue delay" in Sinn Fein's entry to talks after a "credible" ceasefire, Mr Adams said this was not sufficient to engineer a ceasefire.
"Michael Ancram should set a date for Sinn Fein entering talks now," he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Hume said that notwithstanding the current electoral challenge from Sinn Fein, particularly in West Belfast where Mr Adams is seeking to unseat Dr Joe Hendron, the SDLP would at least retain the four Westminster seats it won in 1992, including West Belfast.
He said the party had an impressive record in the constituencies where it holds seats - West Belfast, South Down, Newry and Armagh, and Foyle.
"Official figures for last year show that unemployment is falling faster in these constituencies that anywhere else in the North."
"We are putting forward candidates in every constituency and we are confident of getting a very solid vote right across the political divide," said Mr Hume at yesterday's press conference.
Mr Hume said that if the British Labour party gains power at Westminster, the SDLP will use its "status as a sister party to promote change".
It would be seeking to give teeth to the Parades Commission and achieve improvements in areas including the administration of justice, policing, health, education and agriculture.
The party would also campaign for the extension of a system of proportional representation to all elections in the North, and for the strengthening of links with European Union institutions.
