‘No majority if Congress goes it alone’

Veteran politician refuses to say who will be PM if UPA attains majority

There is “no chance” of the main opposition Congress party getting a majority on its own in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, senior party leader Kapil Sibal has said.

However, Sibal added, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the party is intact and the coalition could be in a position to form the next government. Had the Congress been sure about getting the

majority number of 272 seats in the Lok Sabha, it would have definitely declared Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate as he is the “undisputed leader” in the party, he said in an interview here.

He, however, remained evasive on who could be the prime minister if the UPA were to get

the majority, saying it will be decided by the alliance after the results are declared.

Sibal, a prominent lawyer and former Union minister, was asked why the Congress is reluctant to declare Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate.

“If the Congress were to get 272 [seats), there would be no

We know we won’t get the majority. We know we won’t get 272 [seats], just as we know that the BJP will not get more than 160 seats.” Kapil Sibal | Congress leader

hesitation,” he replied.

When it was argued that the Congress could still project Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate and say that he would be the premier if the party gets the majority, he shot back: “Without any doubt ... If we get the majority, is there any doubt? ... [But] there is no question of saying it. We know we won’t get the majority. We know we won’t get 272 [seats], just as we know that the BJP will not get more than 160 seats.”

Asked if he was not making a big statement, he responded: “Why not? Of course, we will not get (the majority). There is no chance.”