Cong Core Group Meets, Rules Out SP in Govt
The core group of the Congress, which met in Delhi a short time ago, has congratulated the people of India, in particular the grassroot voters. However, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) did not discuss the issue of alliance.
According to reports, the party is facing a problem of plenty, of choosing one among many. The SP has offered support. The Janata Dal shows the preparedness. But party sources said that there is no question of the SP joining the government.
As far as current allies and government formation is concerned, the focus was at the portfolios for Congress and its allies including Trinamool Congress and DMK which have done well.
High among the probable that may be in the new Cabinet are Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram, Kamal Nath, Kapil Sibal, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel, DMK leaders T R Baalu, A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran and former J and K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, all fresh from their victory in the elections.
New entrants being mentioned in political circles are Trinamool chief Mamta Banerjee, whose party with 19 seats is the biggest constituent of the UPA after Congress and DMK’s M K Azhagiri, son of DMK chief M Karunanidhi.
After the formality of resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday morning, the UPA leaders are meeting in New Delhi on the Sunday evening to decide on the composition of the ministry and on the issue of whether the coalition should take support from outside the grouping, sources said.
The first meeting of the newly-constituted Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) is expected to convened in a day or two to elect its leader. Singh, who is already the Prime Ministerial candidate of the Congress, is also likely to be elected by the MPs at a joint meeting of the UPA parties.
