Why Congress, Left need each other

The Congress and the Left seem to have already started on their post-poll strategy. Both parties realise they may need each other to form the next government.

But who will support whom?

The Left on Thursday gave its strongest indication yet that it could do business with the Congress.

CPM Politburo member Sitaram Yechury, when told  that Rahul Gandhi hinted at getting support from the Left, responded: "Well, all these matters need to be discussed after the 16th when we know the actual arithmetic from these elections. Till then our aim is for a non-BJP, non-Congress government."

"Then are you not ruling out an alliance with the Congress?" NDTV asked him. "I'm not considering these issues now...Once the battle is over, we'll sit down and talk," he said.

It could be a tight rope walk for the CPM to cobble together a government, specially given the tough talk by the general secretary.

Karat says: "Position of our party is very clear and we will be working for non congress secular alliance in Centre."

The Congress, on the other hand, is clear that if it emerges as the largest party then it will aim to form the government.

It's top managers are believed to have set a target of atlest 160 seats.

Says Congress spokesperson Veerappa Moily: "Congress will emerge as single largest party we will get 180."

If they get this, they will go all out to form a government, even reaching out to the Left.

Congress' options

* Lead coalition as single largest party
* Sit in Opposition, wait it out
* Won't support another government

And if the Congress isn't the largest party, insiders say, they may sit in the Opposition. That's because their calculation is that a government by anybody else will not last long.

So, it's ruling out outside support for any other secular formation, even one set up by the Left.