Agencies
New Delhi, Apr 25: With prospects of a hung Parliament looming large, Congress on Friday made it clear that in search of the missing numbers, it would not be averse to tap players outside the UPA orbit.
Shedding coyness about its desperation for numbers, the party, in fact, was candid about its plans, confirming estimates about realignment of a scale that might render the existing combinations irrelevant to give rise to what is being called a "fresh front".
"On the 16th of May we will see the situation and all options are open," party leader Kapil Sibal told reporters in remarks that offered a preview of the scramble for numbers, post-poll.
With the UPA, for all practical purposes, getting reduced to DMK, Trinamool Congress and a wavering Nationalist Congress Party, Congress needs to move fast to secure numbers from outside.
Best-case estimates put Congress's tally at 150, while its allies, by a generous estimate, can pull in another 50 seats. If that comes to bear, the party will still be looking at the task of arranging the support of another 75 MPs at least.
Lassoing LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan and RJD boss Lalu Prasad is surely among the options. But considering that the two Bihar satraps, who have drifted away from Congress, are not likely to bring in enough numbers, Sibal's remarks were also seen as reflecting the party's plan to snoop in the NDA territory for support to make up for the gap between the magic figure of 272 in a House of 543.
Congress has given enough indications of its interest in Nitish Kumar, widely tipped to come up trumps in his battle against Lalu and Paswan in Bihar. Sources said efforts for a partnership with the Bihar CM remains in the top drawer of party's strategists.
Congress's talks with Samajwadi Party for an alliance in UP broke down on a bitter note, and the party is wary of dealing afresh with Mulayam Singh Yadav and his top political associate Amar Singh who have threatened to be completely unsentimental while negotiating a fresh partnership. But the party is preparing to reach out to the SP leadership, though it recognises that it will have to outbid other claimants for power, NCP boss Sharad Pawar included.
AIADMK has expressed its readiness to do business with the Congress, and the latter will not mind looking at her afresh if she outperforms the UPA in polls.
In the face of increasing pressure from allies and estranged friends alike, the party sought to dispel all doubts about the PM's slot and made it clear that Manmohan Singh's position was not negotiable.
"On August 15, Dr Manmohan Singh will hoist the tricolour at the Red Fort," Sibal said a little rhetorically to emphasise the point.
With the electoral reality leaving very little space for exuberance, Sibal candidly said, "Given the fragmented polity it is impossible for a simple party to get an absolute majority." He also ruled out the chances of Congress supporting any other combine in power.
Taking note of former foreign minister Jaswant Singh's statement about how then home minister L K Advani had been forced to accept the proposal to release terrorists for hostages, Sibal dismissed it as an attempt to enhance the image of the BJP's prime ministerial candidate. "How do you trust Jaswant Singh? He also denied his talks with Strobe Talbott," Sibal said.
He accused Jaswant Singh of taking the terrorists to Kandahar and holding talks with Taliban "which was not recognised by the Indian government."