INDIA to decide tomorrow on approaching Nitish, Naidu

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will meet and decide on Wednesday whether to approach former partners such as the Janata Dal-United and the Telugu Desam Party to attempt government formation at the Centre, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said.

IMAGE: Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party leader Rahul Gandhi show victory signs while posing for a picture after the Lok Sabha election trends and results, in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

"We are going to have a meeting with our partners tomorrow. These questions will be raised and answered there," Gandhi told a press conference in New Delhi when asked if the Congress and its allies will approach parties that are part of the National Democratic Alliance to try and form a government.

He was addressing the press conference with senior Congress leaders as the Lok Sabha poll results and trends showed the Bharatiya Janata Party was set to become the single-largest party but would fall short of the magic figure of 272.

"We won't say anything without asking the opinion of our allies. Our alliance will decide tomorrow and whatever they decide we will act on that," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader said the general election was a fight to save the Constitution.

"It was on my mind that the people of this country would rally together to save the Constitution. The first and biggest step towards saving the Constitution has been taken," he said, adding that it was the poor and the marginalised who stood up.

"India's poorest and backward stood up to save the Constitution," he said.

He added that the Congress, and the INDIA bloc have given India a new vision, a pro-poor vision.

"The main thing this election has said, the country has said, is that we don't want Narendra Modi, Amit Shah to be running this country," he said.

He said all Congress leaders respected INDIA bloc allies and wherever the alliance fought 'we fought as one'.

Gandhi offered special thanks to the electorate of Uttar Pradesh for supporting the Congress and 'protecting' the Constitution.

When asked if he would keep the Wayanad or Rae Bareli seat, Gandhi said he has not taken a decision yet.

On Congress candidate K L Sharma wresting the Amethi seat from the BJP's Smriti Irani, Gandhi said the party loyalist had been working in the constituency for the past 40 years and his victory was certain.