 "Cong to float idea of 'enlarged' UPA-III to stop Modi")
With the result day nearing after a tough electoral battle, Congress is floating the idea of an "enlarged" UPA-III taking on board new allies and keeping open the issue of leadership to stop Narendra Modi.
"All options are on the table and all options are off the table. It all depends upon the numbers we get and the BJP gets and the margin between them," a senior party leader, who declined to be identified, said.
He insisted that the Congress cannot abandon its role as a responsible national party to ensure that a stable government is in place in national interest and would work in that direction along with all like minded parties.
"The issue of leadership will come later", he said suggesting that the Congress is open to the idea of not insisting on the lead role if the numbers so demand.
At the same time, a sizeable section in the party is insisting that the Congress should participate to give the government not only stability but also strength and expertise.
"We are pragmatic enough to understand that no one having just 20 seats will try to lead a party of 100 plus," he said, adding that the Congress is of the view that its numbers are going to be significantly less than the last polls.
The last 25 years or so have witnessed Congress and the BJP together bagging some 300 odd seats while the rest have gone to regional parties.
"All options are on the table and all options are off the table. It all depends upon the numbers we get and the BJP gets and the margin between them," a senior party leader, who declined to be identified, said.
He insisted that the Congress cannot abandon its role as a responsible national party to ensure that a stable government is in place in national interest and would work in that direction along with all like minded parties.
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The shape of things to come depended upon what kind of mandate is received by regional parties and which of them get more seats as there are some among them which cannot join hands with Modi in any eventuality.
"The issue of leadership will come later", he said suggesting that the Congress is open to the idea of not insisting on the lead role if the numbers so demand.
At the same time, a sizeable section in the party is insisting that the Congress should participate to give the government not only stability but also strength and expertise.
"We are pragmatic enough to understand that no one having just 20 seats will try to lead a party of 100 plus," he said, adding that the Congress is of the view that its numbers are going to be significantly less than the last polls.
The last 25 years or so have witnessed Congress and the BJP together bagging some 300 odd seats while the rest have gone to regional parties.