(Image source from: Congress willing to support Third Front government?})

The Congress seems to be ready with a post-poll strategy as its leaders have begun to give hints of supporting the Third Front government. As the country has completed six phases of polling and it's outcome will be known by May 16, the Congress is gearing up to spend the next couple of years out of power.

Union minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday stated that Congress may back a Third Front government or take its help to form government at the centre after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Khurshid's remark foretells of a significant shift in Congress' post-poll strategy. Only last week Congress general secretary Ajay Maken had ruled out that the party may support a government led by an alliance of 11-parties.

Khurshid's statement was made to reporters in Pitauram, his native village. He said that there was no possibility of the saffron party forming the next government.

He further said that if the need arises then the Congress may consider to support a Third Front government. The Congress may also take support of the Third Front, Khurshid further added.

Earlier on Friday, Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan also hinted that the party may support the Third front. He stated that the Congress would stop the BJP from coming to power at the centre.

At a press conference in Mumbai, Chavan had stated that he doesn't see Narendra Modi becoming India's Prime Minister even if the BJP gets more seats than the Congress. He was sure that regional parties would not support the BJP.

Chavan further said that the Congress and third front can form a government at the centre, which would be secular.

The Third Front comprises of the Left parties,  Samajwadi Party and JD(U) among the 11 collectives. The alliance has been pitching in for a ‘non-BJP, non-Congress secular front’ in the last  few months.

(Picture Source: dailymail.co.uk)

(AW: Pratima Tigga)