Cong has upper hand, works to form govt

New Delhi: Congress Working Committee will be meeting on Sunday afternoon to discuss the 15th Lok Sabha election results.

The Congress Core Group will also be meeting at 1230 hrs IST at the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The meeting will be attended by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel and Pranab Mukherjee.

Party leaders have been insisting the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) does not need the support of any new big allies and the Congress is also likely to keep key portfolios with itself.

Reports say External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to be shifted to the Finance Ministry, which the Manmohan Singh has been handling so far. Commerce Minister Kamal Nath is likely to be shifted to the External Affairs Ministry.

Home Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister A K Antony are likely to continue in their posts. Kapil Sibal is likely to get the Commerce Ministry.

There is also a demand from within the party to bring Rahul Gandhi into the Cabinet. Rahul has been credited for the party's success particularly in Uttar Pradesh.

Major pre-poll allies such as the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), the Trinamool Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also are expecting ministerial berths.

The Congress-led alliance is no longer depends on any other major party. Senior Congress leaders have told CNN-IBN that only pre-poll constituents of the UPA would form the government.

The resounding victory means Congress could reach out to independents and smaller parties to cross the half-way mark of 272 seats.

Sonia has already called up old allies including Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, who is likely to be retained in the Union Government. Sonia reportedly asked Lalu to attend Cabinet meeting.

Lalu is likely to arrive in Delhi on Sunday afternoon while NCP chief Sharad Pawar has already reached the National Capital. Sonia has also spoken to Lok Janshakti Party supremo Ram Vilas Paswan who lost the elections from Hajipur.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MPs are meeting on Sunday to discuss support to the UPA Government.

For the Samajwadi Party, which had come to the UPA's rescue during the Indo-US nuclear deal debate and the trust vote, the results are a big disappointment.

The Congress on the other hand is relieved that it would not have to rely on the Samajwadi Party, which was sure to ask for key portfolios if it were to join the government.