Sonia gets into action, Opposition meet on May 23

With a week left for the Lok Sabha poll results, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has swung into action to rally support of opposition leaders to present an alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The opposition camp is upbeat about defeating the BJP-led NDA at the hustings but also aware that a post-poll scenario may require some deft moves to put together a coalition that could stake claim to form the next government.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has written letters to leaders of alliance partners JD(S), NCP, DMK, RJD seeking their presence at a meeting of opposition parties immediately after the results are declared on May 23.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar is learnt to have been asked to reach out to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and YSR Congress chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, with whom he is known to enjoy a good rapport.

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad hinted at Congress would not make it an issue if the prime minister's post was not offered to the party.

“We are not going to make it an issue that we (Congress) will not let any other (leader) to become the PM, if it is not offered to us (Congress),” Azad told reporters in Patna on Wednesday evening.

Asked about Azad's remarks, Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said” “wait till May 23, everything will be clear then.”

Congress leaders have made light of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's efforts at cobbling up a 'non-BJP, non-Congress' Federal Front.

A senior leader said Congress' allies had given him a clear message that there will not be any third alliance in the post-election scenario.