Post-poll stand will prove secular credentials of all, says Congress

“Only after the results are out, the positions of all will be clear and the secular credentials of all the parties would also be proved then,” said the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Janardan Dwivedi.

He said the Congress was confident of emerging as the single largest party with much more seats in its kitty than its tally in 2004.

Ensuring support

Janardan Dwivedi’s remark came at a time when the Congress is apparently trying to ensure the support of the Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal and Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janashakti Party to form the next government in the Centre.

The party also seems keen to keep its door open for Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is currently with the BJP-led NDA.

“The secular credential of the JD(U) will be proved only when it quits the National Democratic Alliance, like Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress did in West Bengal,” said Dwivedi, who took over as the chief spokesman of the party on Saturday.