Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday made a U-turn saying his party must be given a chance to head the Government for the sake of stability, a remark comes a day after he had said that the Congress was only keen on defeating the NDA and the Prime Minister’s post was not its primary concern.
“No, this is not true that Congress will not claim or Congress is not interested in the Prime Minister’s post. Of course, we are the biggest and oldest political party. If we have to run the Government for five years, the biggest political party should be given a chance,” Azad said.
While the Congress leadership is understood to have urged UPA partner and NCP chief Sharad Pawar to coordinate with other Opposition leaders to form a cohesive post-result strategy, Congress president Rahul Gandhi at a Press conference said regional parties such as the SP, BSP and TDP will not support the BJP and indicated that Opposition parties will get together to form the next Government.
AICC sources said Sharad Pawar will play a catalyst role to unite non-BJP parties once results start pouring out. “He (Pawar) has been requested by party leadership to station himself in Delhi and make sure that if needed all secular forces be put together,” sources said.
Sources also said TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is having a poll battle with Modi, seems to have conveyed her only aim is to remove Modi hence would not like to pitch for PM post. NCP sources said NCP general secretary and former Minister in UPA Praful Patel called up Mamata and expressed solidarity with her in her fight against the Centre and struggle towards the Election Commission.
Refusing to spell out the Opposition’s strategy ahead of the Lok Sabha poll results on May 23, Rahul said unlike Modi, the Congress will take the experience of veterans such as UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He was also asked what role Sonia Gandhi will play in bringing together Opposition parties together to form the next Government.
Another leader TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, who is spearheading an effort to cobble up an anti-BJP front, is likely to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the national Capital and BSP chief Mayawati in Lucknow Saturday. He will meet Rahul twice in recent times.
Naidu also said not only the TRS but any outfit which is against the saffron party are welcome to join a grand alliance after the election results are declared. “I am meeting everybody. Will chalk out a plan after discussing with all leaders,” Naidu said after he met the Election Commission of India in the national Capital on Friday.
Naidu has stepped up efforts to bring together parties which are against the BJP ahead of a possible meeting of the grand alliance after the election results are declared on May 23. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister met CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and Aam Admi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday and discussed with them about the possible tie-up in the post-election scenario.
Rahul has repeatedly denied being interested in the top post even though he has received support from regional satraps like MK Stalin and Tejashwi Yadav.