New Delhi: Buoyed by the exit polls after the second phase of Lok Sabha polls today (April 26, 2004) projecting ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) suffering further reverses, Congress today claimed it would form the next Government at the Centre and would not require the support of either Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) or Samajwadi Party (SP) for this.

"We are going to form the next Government at the Centre. We believe firmly that Congress and its allies would be getting absolute majority and I don't think we would be needing the support of either BSP or Samajwadi Party in the formation of Government," party spokesman S Jaipal Reddy told reporters.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...
Political Parties in India

Pooh-poohing the claim of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA would be winning at least 300 Lok Sabha seats, he said Vajpayee, who began his career as an Opposition Leader, would end his career as an Opposition Leader.

"The Prime Minister who had earlier rubbished exit polls was now maintaining modest claim of NDA winning 300 seats. I would, therefore, say that BJP began the campaign with bluster and now end up in fluster," Reddy said.

He said the NDA, which was "celebrating" following the huge positive projections of the exit polls after the first round of polls, "has now made a somersault", realizing that it has lost the ground.