New Delhi: Congress on Sunday gave indications that it may include only pre-poll allies in the new government leaving out those who had parted company just before the Lok Sabha polls -- Samajwadi Party and RJD.
The party's highest decision-making body, the Congress Working Committee, discussed the scenario after the announcement of the results which have given it a near absolute majority, but there was no specific mention of parties or individuals such as SP or Lalu Prasad, chief of the RJD.
However, the working committee was emphatic that discussions would be held on Tuesday with "pre-poll allies", parties like DMK, Trinamool Congress and NCP, to discuss the strategy how to go about Cabinet formation.
The hour-long meeting took place immediately after the SP and Deve Gowda's JDS had offered to support the UPA which is about 11 seats short of 272, which will give the coalition an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha.
Amid reports that the general view within the party was that Samajwadi Party, which had been a difficult ally, should be kept out, although it has 23 seats, Congress spokesman Janardhan Dwivedi said there was no discussion on specific individual or party in the CWC meeting.
Lalu Prasad, whose RJD has four seats, has clearly indicated keenness to stay in the new Cabinet. It is, however, not clear what decision the Congress would take about him.
Dwivedi said the Congress Parliamentary Party will meet on Tuesday to elect its leader and Chairperson after which talks will be held with "pre-poll allies" on formalities of the government formation.
Asked what he meant by pre-poll allies, he said "you know what is the meaning of pre-poll allies.... I am not going to answer any question regarding any individual."
He said numbers for the government is not a big issue.
Sources said a section of CWC members was opposed to including RJD and SP in the Cabinet. Their argument is that the voteshare of Congress is the same as that of RJD and SP in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and the Congress should keep distance from these parties to protect its interest.
To a question whether there was any discussion about Rahul Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister, Dwivedi said "you know, Manmohan Singhji is going to be the Prime Minister.