2014 Lok Sabha elections: Finding allies tough for Congress

NEW DELHI: With just over two months to go for the general elections, the ruling Congress is finding it tough to hang on to its allies ahead of what is expected to be a clash of competing coalitions.

“The situation is tough,” a Congress member conceded, pointing to the rapprochement worked out with the National Conference only after the party agreed to make concessions to its J&K partner.

Similarly, in Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said ahead of the seatsharing talks that BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi is not an untouchable.

DMK, Trinamool Congress and BSP have all indicated that they are keeping their options wide open on striking a pre-poll alliance with Congress as well as prefer maximising their gains in the Lok Sabha elections by distancing from the Congress if need be.

Only in the case of Bihar, there are firm signals that seat-sharing talks with Lalu Prasadled RJD and Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party are progressing smoothly.

Regional parties are keeping their options open for a post-poll alliance depending on their numbers.