New Delhi: A jubilant Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed the press at 10 Janpath as it became clear that the UPA and the Congress party on its own had made spectacular gains in these elections. Sonia put at rest all speculation by stating firmly that Manmohan Singh would be the Prime Minister.
Gandhi said the people of India always made the right choice.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that with this verdict, the public had expressed confidence in the Congress and faith in Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. He also said that he would try to get Rahul in the Cabinet.
The UPA alliance is ahead in 250 constituencies with Congress alone leading in 198 seats. The ruling Front is just short of a little over 20 seats for the magic figure of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
The Congress exulted over its victory saying it was a vindication of its policies while BJP spokespersons were still unwilling to concede defeat though they admitted that the UPA was ahead in early trends.
The Congress performance was spectacular in Kerala where it routed the Left Front and dealt a severe blow to the Marxists in West Bengal with help from ally Trinamool Congress.
Meanwhile, the Congress said Rahul Gandhi's leadership of the campaign was one of the decisive factors behind the party's good performance.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said a stable government was the need of the hour in these times of global recession and there should be no problem in formation of a stable government.
He also said that his party would support Congress's choice for PM.
BJP spokesperson Balbir Punj said the trends were "disappointing" and not on expected lines.
"Trends are not on expected lines. It is little disappointing. We concede UPA is ahead," Punj said. He said the party's parliamentary board would meet to analyse what went wrong.
Admitting that Congress "seems to have the upper hand", another BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said, "As of now UPA is leading. We are lagging behind."
Asked what went wrong, Naidu said, "That has to be analysed. It is disappointing, I do agree".
The CPI on the other hand ruled out supporting a Congress-led government, saying it would sit in opposition if the people's mandate was not for forming a non-BJP, non-Congress government at the Centre.
"We are not with Congress party either at the end of the day or at beginning of the day...if the mandate is not for us to form a non-BJP non-Congress government, alright, then we will sit in the opposition," D Raja said.
On the Left's performance in Kerala, the CPI leader said there were certain "adverse factors" in the southern state and "we need to analyse in the coming days".
Also, the Congress has not ruled out support from Janata Dal (United)'s Nitish Kumar.
Gandhi said the people of India always made the right choice.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that with this verdict, the public had expressed confidence in the Congress and faith in Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. He also said that he would try to get Rahul in the Cabinet.
The UPA alliance is ahead in 250 constituencies with Congress alone leading in 198 seats. The ruling Front is just short of a little over 20 seats for the magic figure of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
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The Congress exulted over its victory saying it was a vindication of its policies while BJP spokespersons were still unwilling to concede defeat though they admitted that the UPA was ahead in early trends.
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The Congress performance was spectacular in Kerala where it routed the Left Front and dealt a severe blow to the Marxists in West Bengal with help from ally Trinamool Congress.
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Meanwhile, the Congress said Rahul Gandhi's leadership of the campaign was one of the decisive factors behind the party's good performance.
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NCP chief Sharad Pawar said a stable government was the need of the hour in these times of global recession and there should be no problem in formation of a stable government.
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He also said that his party would support Congress's choice for PM.
BJP spokesperson Balbir Punj said the trends were "disappointing" and not on expected lines.
"Trends are not on expected lines. It is little disappointing. We concede UPA is ahead," Punj said. He said the party's parliamentary board would meet to analyse what went wrong.
Admitting that Congress "seems to have the upper hand", another BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said, "As of now UPA is leading. We are lagging behind."
Asked what went wrong, Naidu said, "That has to be analysed. It is disappointing, I do agree".
The CPI on the other hand ruled out supporting a Congress-led government, saying it would sit in opposition if the people's mandate was not for forming a non-BJP, non-Congress government at the Centre.
"We are not with Congress party either at the end of the day or at beginning of the day...if the mandate is not for us to form a non-BJP non-Congress government, alright, then we will sit in the opposition," D Raja said.
On the Left's performance in Kerala, the CPI leader said there were certain "adverse factors" in the southern state and "we need to analyse in the coming days".
Also, the Congress has not ruled out support from Janata Dal (United)'s Nitish Kumar.
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