New Delhi, May 12: With ideology taking a backseat and alliance partners coming at a first come first serve basis the tussle to woo alliance partners is already on hours before the final verdict for the fourteenth Lok Sabha is out. Congress Party Spokesman Jaipal Reddy, met Harkishan Singh Surjeet and Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav at the residence of the veteran CPI-M leader.

He later apprised Congress President Sonia Gandhi of the talks he had with the two leaders on the issue of government formation. Senior Congress leader Ambika Soni described Reddy`s meeting with Surjeet as a "follow up" of the initiative Sonia had taken while meeting the CPI-M leader on Tuesday.
Surjeet also held a separate meeting with the JD(S) President and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda over the same issue.
Observing that all secular parties are bent upon being united, CPI-M general secretary said the leadership issue of a non-NDA coalition government would get "easier" to decide once the results are known.

While "In principle it is the single largest party that has a bigger claim to lead the coalition, there have been instances in the past when the prime ministers have not hailed from the largest group in the Lok Sabha," he said adding that the leadership issue was being "exaggerated" by the media.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi too, held consultations with senior party leaders over the evolving political situation with regard to formation of a party-led non-NDA Government after the declaration of poll results.
Amidst hectic activities to cobble an alternative to NDA, Sonia met party colleagues including Manmohan Singh, Arjun Singh, Ambika Soni, Ahmed Patel, RK Dhawan, Oscar Fernandes and discussed the developing political situation, party sources said.
Former prime minister Chandrasekhar also held talks with the Congress president tonight. Later while talking to the reporters he backed Congress President Sonia Gandhi to head the new government in the event of formation of a non-NDA coalition.
Earlier, DMK president M Karunanidhi said that his party will not join any government at the Centre but will extend outside support to the Congress party.
"The largest (non-NDA) party will decide the name of its leader. I do not have any precondition and I have no objection to any name," Chandrasekhar said.
To a question whehter he would muster support of other parties for Gandhi, the Samajwadi Janata Party leader said "I am willing to extend all help in formation of a non –NDA secular government.”
Samajwadi Party, however side-stepped the issue of leadership of a non-NDA secular government but made it clear that all like minded parties needed to join such a coalition as "power will be the cementing force."
These views were aired by SP General Secretary Amar Singh in a panel discussion on Zee News.
It must be mentioned here that the NDA convenor George Fernandes had reportedly met NCP President Sharad Pawar yesterday in the backdrop of projections of a hung Lok Sabha. It has denied reports of holding any talks for govt formation with any body.
Party President Venkaiah Naidu told reporters, “NDA has not decided on holding talks with Anybody." He said the NDA`s strategy could not be made public till results are out.
The BJP still maintains that it will get the numbers required to form the govt at the Center.
Bureau Report