Lok Sabha Election 2019 Results: What Opposition will do if NDA tally falls short on May 23

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Lok Sabha Election 2019 Results: What Opposition will do if NDA tally falls short on May 23
Lok Sabha Election 2019 Results: What Opposition will do if NDA tally falls short on May 23

New Delhi : The Congress and some other opposition parties are in discussion to join hands quickly and stake claims to form government in case the tally falls any short for the ruling NDA government on May 23.

Last week, senior Congress leaders including president Rahul Gandhi, treasurer Ahmed Patel, and senior leader Abhishek Singhvi held a marathon meeting at Gandhi’s residence to chalk out a detailed plan for results day, two senior leaders privy to the developments told HT.

As per discussions, party has prepared some drafts on how they can alliance with other parties and leaders to form a non-NDA government.

A senior Congress leader said: “In the possibility of a hung Parliament, we may communicate to President [Ram Nath] Kovind at the earliest opportunity. If the NDA falls short of majority, we may replicate the Karnataka model and stake claim. The final call, however, will be taken by UPA [United Progressive Alliance] chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.”

In Karnataka, the Congress had quickly moved and offered rival JD (S) the CM’s chair to keep the BJP, the largest party, out of power and staked claim even as the governor invited the BJP to form government and offered time to prove majority.

According to the Indian Constitution, the President holds the right to call a group of parties he thinks can offer a stable government. The largest party or the largest pre-poll pact get precedence over others. In 2004, president APJ Abdul Kalam invited Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to form a government after the parliamentary polls did not throw up a clear winner.

The Congress, with 145 seats, got preference over the BJP, which had 138 seats. The Congress quickly put together a post-poll alliance under the UPA to form a government with outside support from the Left.