New Delhi, May 15: Newly-elected Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi today said a coalition government led by her party will very soon be in place. Addressing newly-elected party MPs in the Central Hall of Parliament soon after being unanimously elected the CPP leader, Gandhi said the people of the country had "decisively rejected the ideology of RSS and destructive and self-serving policies of the NDA government."
"The people have also rejected politics of arrogance, personal attacks and negative campaign," she said.
"Very soon a Congress-led coalition will be in place at the centre," Gandhi said to the thumping of desks by the jubilant party MPs. Hailing the electoral outcome, she said the people had "spoken" and "reaffirmed what we always believe in our hearts, that the soul of the nation is secular and all inclusive."
Gandhi said the people had "chosen us to represent their aspirations and not ours." "Let us see the sentiments behind this (victory)", the Congress president said.
"We have an enormous task ahead of us," Gandhi said, adding that the party would have to work hard and "be a catalyst for change and progress."
She had a word of praise for the young men and women who had worked hard and did not lose heart "against all odds." Gandhi said she wanted the elected representatives of the party to be accountable to the people.
"Our party organisation has to be enthused with new energy and drive," she said, while expressing dissatisfaction over Congress performance in some of states.
"Even as we provide the pivot for the coalition, it will be our earnest endeavour to respect and work closely with all our allies and partners", Gandhi said.
"We will soon finalise a joint plan of action with them. This plan will outline our priorities, policies and programmes as one cohesive unit", she said.
Bureau Report