UPA meets to discuss government formation

Congress on Wednesday began discussions on government formation with its pre-poll alliance partners at a meeting of the UPA here today.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi deliberated the nitty-gritties of government formation with its pre-poll allies like the DMK, Trinamool Congress, NCP and National Conference.

DMK supremo M Karunanidhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, Trinamool Congress leader Mamta Banerjee, Muslim League leader E Ahamed, JMM leader Shibu Soren and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi were among the leaders present for the meeting.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Rahul Gandhi, A K Antony also took part in the discussions.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to call on President Pratibh Patil later today to stake claim to form the next government.

Manmohan Singh was renominated as Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) leader by party chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday.

Gandhi was elected as the chairperson of the CPP, who later named 76-year-old Singh as the CPP leader.

Fresh from the spectacular victory in the Lok Sabha polls, the meeting saw Gandhi telling Congress workers to put the party before self, remain disciplined and united to emerge even stronger in the future.

The UPA's tally in the new Lok Sabha soared by 54 to reach 315 mark, far above the magic figure of 272, as it received unexpected bonus of support from BSP and SP besides some other parties and independents.

Asked about expectations from the new government, Abdullah said his party has never raised with the Congress the issue of getting a cabinet portfolio for himself.

"We have never raised this issue. We have extended unconditional support," Abdullah said.

Trinamool leader Mamta Banerjee too spoke in a similar vein. "We have never asked anything. We don't want anything. We want a stable government," she said.