New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi held consultations today (May 12, 2004) with senior party leaders in the backdrop of the evolving political situation with regard to formation of a party-led non-NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government after the declaration of results of Lok Sabha polls tomorrow (May 13, 2004).

Amidst hectic activities to cobble an alternative to NDA, Gandhi met party colleagues including Manmohan Singh, Arjun Singh, Ambika Soni, Ahmed Patel, R K Dhawan, Oscar Fernandes and S Jaipal Reddy and discussed the developing political situation, party sources said.

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Party spokesman Reddy, who met Harkishan Singh Surjeet and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav at the residence of the veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) leader, apprised Gandhi of the talks he had with the two leaders on the issue.

Ambika Soni described Reddy's meeting with Surjeet as a "follow up" of the initiative Gandhi had taken while meeting the CPM leader yesterday.

"Though Gandhi met Surjeet yesterday, she is also utilising the services of all other leaders to interact with party allies and other non-NDA partners to form a secular alternative led by Congress," Soni told reporters when asked about Reddy's meeting with Surjeet.

Meanwhile, sources said Gandhi has asked party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Manmohan Singh, Ahmed Patel, R K Dhawan, Natwar Singh to talk to party allies and other non-NDA partners for an alternative Government.

They parried questions whether somebody was talking to BSP, saying Gandhi has been authorised to hold talk with leaders of various political parties.