Chronicle Reporter, Bhopal, Polling for the 7th and final phase of Lok Sabha elections remains in 59 seats. After the last phase of polling on May 19, results are likely to be in by May 23 night. Before that Congress has started preparations to form government at the Centre.
In addition to talking to the UPA constituents, it has started the necessary drill with other non-BJP parties to form the government. The Congress is in the process of forming a government in collaboration with other parties at the Centre.
For this, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has expressed her confidence in Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath. The important responsibilities of negotiating for partnership with the parties have been entrusted to him.
Though officially no information has come out yet, it has been officially confirmed by former minister and Congress leader Suresh Pachouri.
It may be noted that there is a possibility of a hung Lok Sabha this time. Compared to 2014, BJP seems to be losing its hold in a few seats in several Hindi-speaking regions of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh.
At the same time, the SP- BSP alliance has also created a barrier for BJP. In such a situation, even before a situation of hung assembly comes, the Congress wants to complete its preparations.
Sonia Gandhi has reportedly entrusted Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath to open talks with non-BJP parties for a possible alliance if no party is able to gain a majority in Lok Sabha election 2019.
Sources revealed that the UPA chairperson wants Kamal Nath to lead Congress’ outreach to smaller and regional parties if a hung parliament is the outcome at the end of result day on May 23.
While the BJP has maintained that it will comfortably return to power as the largest member of National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Congress has reportedly begun gearing up for a scenario to the contrary.
Support from non-NDA members could be the deciding factor for both Congress and the BJP if no party is able to hit the majority mark on its own.
Kamal Nath, a seasoned war-horse for the Congress, has seen giddying heights and the lowest of lows of his party.His recent return to the post of MP CM showcased the faith Congress’ top brass has in him. He has also been a key campaigner for the party in the ongoing LS polls.
Recently, he said at a rally that PM Modi’s term in office is just a matter of time now.
Kamal Nath’s key role
Speculations in the political corridors are that Congress has given Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath the important responsibility to reach out and continue talks with BJD chief Naveen Patnaik in Odisha, Jaganmohan Reddy of YS Congress in Andhra Pradesh and K Chandrasekhar Rao of TRS in Telangana.
Kamal Nath may now have to reach out to non-UPA, non-BJP parties and work out a formula in the eventuality of a hung parliament. Out of power in Delhi since 2014 when BJP swept the Lok Sabha election, Congress is desperate to return to the political helm. And while party leaders see Rahul Gandhi as the obvious candidate for the PM’s post if NDA is ousted, existing and future alliance partners may not be in agreement.
It is speculated that this was one of the reasons why parties like Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP did not seal a pre-poll pact with Congress. Political analysts feel the final outcome of elections — if not conclusive — could well result in all major parties engaging in hectic negotiations to rake up the numbers.