This Article is From May 15, 2009

Race for numbers: Sonia takes centre stage; BJP hunts for allies

New Delhi:

The queen is marshalling her knights and looking to crossovers from the other camp. The King in waiting is also looking to poach from the ruling coalition. If Sonia Gandhi reached out to allies past and present, the BJP is in a huddle consulting constitutional experts a series of meetings on the way forward.

As for the Left they're still officially for a non-Congress, non-BJP government at the Centre but all day there was speculation about a possible minority government formula.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has now taken centre stage in alliance number-crunching despite letting her son take over the campaign, her top priority now is getting assurances of support from wayward allies.

On Wednesday night NCP chief Sharad Pawar drove to her residence, sources have told NDTV that he told her he would stay with the UPA. Gandhi also broke the ice with the sulking Bihar ally Lalu Yadav with a personal phone call.

"We are with UPA and will form a secular government," said Praful Patel, Civil Aviation Minister and NCP leader.

Left has made it clear it will neither allow the BJP to form the next government but is willing to support a Congress-led government.

But what will the Left do if the Congress were to go for a minority government, will the Left vote against such a government or abstain?

Indicators coming from Left leaders telling us that they will never let the BJP form government.

Advani holds meetings

BJP is also not far behind in its effort to muster support to form the next government at the Centre.

NDA's prime ministerial candidate LK Advani on Thurday met saffron party's core group to thrash out strategy for the post-poll scenario.

BJP has formed team who will woo TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, Jayalalithaa and Orissa chif Minister Naveen Patnaik for the required numbers.

The BJP however is on the offensive, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi flew into Delhi on Thurday to attend the strategy meet.

"We will come to power, the people will make us come to power. I am here mainly for post-election work. There is nothing to hide," said Narendra Modi, Chief Minister, Gujarat.

The BJP is also looking at the constitutional options before it and top legal expert Soli Sorabjee is part of the legal think tank along with Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Fourth Front

Even as the Fourth Front announced that it would come out with its future strategy on May 17, its key constituent, Samajwadi Party is keeping its channels open with other potential players for a post-poll alliance.

Comprising of the SP, RJD and LJP, the Fourth Front leaders on Thursday announced that they would unveil their joint strategy on May 17, a day after the announcement of poll results.

Simultaneously, SP general secretary Amar Singh on Thursday said that he is in touch with NCP, CPM and even the Praja Rajyam Party for a post-poll tie-up.

"I had tried to contact Pawar recently but he was not in town. I will try and speak to him again. I am also in touch with CPM leader Sitaram Yechury. I spoke to Praja Rajyam Party chief Chiranjeevi twice and had detailed discussions with him," the SP general secretary said here.

The Fourth Front has made it clear that it was averse to having any alliance with BJP and BSP.

LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan had indicated on Wednesday that the Front could back a non-Congress secular alliance in case Congress does not get the desired number. (With PTI inputs)

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