In Raj, Cong engages Independents; in MP thriller, all eyes on Maya

NEW DELHI: Getting a clear majority in Chhattisgarh and still waiting to cross the magic numbers in both MP and Rajasthan, the Congress has opened talks with Independents and other parties to cement the chances of forming its governments.

Congress supporters perform a hawan for better results in the states Assembly elections outside Congress president Rahul Gandhi''s residence in New Delhi on Tuesday. PTI

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 11

Getting a clear majority in Chhattisgarh and still waiting to cross the magic numbers in both MP and Rajasthan, the Congress has opened talks with Independents and other parties to cement the chances of forming its governments.

In Rajasthan, where the contest between the Congress and BJP remained close with Congress in a 14-seat edge, party leader Ashok Gehlot is learnt to have spoken to some Independents who may come on board to support a Congress government in the state on the condition that Gehlot should be the chief minister.

Trends show on Election Commission of India website Congress leading in 98 seats and has already won five—clearly trouncing the ruling BJP to head toward a simple majority.

The ruling BJP meanwhile is leading in 64 seats and has already won in six. The BSP has won one and is leading in five seats, CPI-M leads in two, Bharatiya Tribal Party in one, Rashtriya Lok Dal in one, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party in three and Independents in 11—including one already declared.

Gehlot and Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot both played cautiously deciding to wait for trends to firm up but said the party was “moving towards a majority” in the state.

In MP, where the fight has become a cliff hanger, Congress chief in the state, Kamal Nath, has already approached GPP, which has two leads though Mayawati’s BSP with seven leads is not opening her cards yet. The SP also has one lead in MP.

The Congress established a clear lead in Chhattisgarh dislodging a 15-year-old BJP government led by Raman Singh but in MP and Rajasthan the party fell short of its previous expectations of clean sweeps with the BJP hanging in and the Congress not crossing the majority until 1.15 pm.

Congress leaders are taking no chances lest a situation of Karnataka arises in MP and Rajasthan where final trends were being awaited. In Karnataka, for instance BJP was unable to form the government despite being the single largest party.

The Congress is confident of avoiding a situation where it falls short of the half way mark. In the past, Governors have called single-largest parties to stake claim to form the government.