New Delhi, May 16: Congress President Sonia Gandhi is meeting her allies at her residence today to work out the modalities of a Common Minimum Programme(CMP), in the run up to the formation a coalition government. The alliance leaders are likely to discuss and reach an agreement on the basic framework of the Common Minimum Programme at the meeting, as well as put their stamp on the leader of coalition. According to some reports, the CMP drafting committee headed by Manmohan Singh has almost completed its brief, which is expected to be final.

Interestingly, Sonia Gandhi has sent invitation for dinner following the meeting to CPI, CPI(M) leaders for whom special arrangements have been made at 10, Janpath. However, the names of the chiefs of Samajwadi Party Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati are missing from the guest list.
This is clearly seen as an indication that Congress is planning to keep a safe distance from both these parties.

Reports say that the Uttar Pradesh unit of Congress has a major role to play in this decision. Congress is trying to revive itself in the state. It is particularly trying to win back the Muslim vote-bank in its kitty, which is presently with Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party.

Since Congress is already placed in a comfortable position with the support of Left and other allies, so it seems to be in no need of these two parties.

This may come as a major setback to Mulayam Singh Yadav’s ambition of returning to the national politics with an important Cabinet berth.

Bureau Report