Manmohan Singh to stake claim to form govt today

New Delhi: Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi will meet President Pratibha Patil at 5 pm on Wednesday to stake claim to form next government.

They will meet President with letters of support from the UPA's alliance partners, Independents and other parties.

Here's how the numbers stack up:

• The UPA pre-poll allies by themselves got 262 - 10 short of the half way mark.
  

• Now, they have the JD(S) with its 3 MPs.
  

• AUDF (The Assam United Democratic front ), the SDF (The Sikkim Democratic front ) and the BDF ( The Bodoland People's Front ) make up for another 3 MPs.
  

• Add to this are 6 Independents who have also said they will support them. So the UPA has 274 MPs.
  

• Also SP, BSP and the RJD have already given their letters of support directly to the President.
  

• The swearing-in will be held on Friday.
  

• First session likely on June 2.