Hectic lobbying and deal-making continued among India's myriad political parties yesterday after the Hindu nationalist-led coalition government of Mr Atal Behrai Vajpayee was toppled by a single vote over the weekend, Rahul Bedi reports. Once formed, the next administration will be India's sixth coalition government in less than three years.
All eyes were on Ms Sonia Gandhi, the 52-year-old Italian-born widow of the former prime minister Mr Rajiv Gandhi. She heads the largest opposition Congress party and is trying to cobble together a coalition of 272 MPs in a 543-member house.
Ms Gandhi made her first move yesterday by sending three senior Congressmen to President K.R. Narayanan to convey her party's views on avoiding a financial crisis. At the same time she was busy firming up alliances with Ms Jayalalitha, a former film star and regional political leader, and Ms Mayawati, a dalit or untouchable MP, both of whom played a crucial role in ousting the government.