New Delhi, May 13: Exuding confidence after an unpredictable victory, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today said that her party would stake claim to form government, but avoided giving a direct reply on whether she would be the next prime minister. Addressing mediapersons here, she said that elected members of the party would elect their leader on May 15. When asked whether the elected Congress leader would be PM, she said, “That is normally the case.”

Opening her address a triumphant Sonia said, “The verdict today is a clear vote for change. It is a mandate against the BJP. I on behalf of the Indian National Congress thank the people of the country for reposing faith in Congress party, ” adding that she would ensure that a strong, stable and secular government is formed at the Centre.

On Indo-Pak relations, she said, “We have been supporting Vajpayeeji’s initiative with Pakistan. We shall continue to work towards improving relations. In fact it was the Congress that had been recommending a dialogue with Pakistan in the first place. It was the BJP that was reluctant, but later toed our line.”

When asked about including Samajwadi Party in the government, she said that Congress would be holding a meeting tomorrow with the parties we had an alliance with and “we are also open to working with all the like minded parties”.
She said the picture would be clear by May 15.

Bureau Report