Cong crosses 200 mark, says will form next Govt Thursday, May 13 2004 10:41 Hrs (IST)
New Delhi:
With Congress crossing the 200 mark as per the trends in counting of votes for the Lok Sabha seats at 1000 hours (IST), the party said it along with the allies will form the next Government as the voters have rejected NDA.
Congress leader Salman Khurshid said, "The people have voted out the BJP and its allies. There is no doubt that the Congress will form the next Government at the Centre."
"It is very clear that the BJP mandate has been withdrawn," he said and added "people have reposed faith in the leadership of Sonia Gandhi."
Asked whether Gandhi would lead the Government, Khurshid said the leadership issue would be discussed with the allies.
Party spokesman Kapil Sibal said, "India shining and Bharat Uday Yatra was an insult to the ordinary citizens of India who does not have the basic necessities like water and electricity. The early trends show that it was a slap on the face of BJP and its allies by the voters."
Sibal, who is leading by a margin of 15,000 votes after third round of counting from Chandni Chowk constituency in Delhi over his BJP rival Smriti Irani, said for the Congress, who is poised to form the Government with the allies, "The common man will be the most important person in all future policies."