Exclusive: Chidambaram on formation of non-BJP govt & KCR bargaining for Deputy PM post

“The writing on the wall is very clear. I am very confident non-BJP parties including Congress will form the government. The party is directly or indirectly in touch with SP & BSP who are our potential allies. Once the results are out, we will do the math,” he said.

P Chidambaram

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said expressed possibility of BJP emerging as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha elections, but said the government at the Centre would only be formed by non-BJP parties that includes the Congress. Speaking to ABP News ahead of counting of votes for 542 Lok Sabha seats, Chidambaram said the unification of non-BJP parties is the only solution to keep the saffron party out of power. “The writing on the wall is very clear. I am very confident non-BJP parties including Congress will form the government. The party is directly or indirectly in touch with SP & BSP who are our potential allies. Once the results are out, we will do the math,” he said. Chidambaram believed it would be unfair to blame party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi if the results do not come in their favour in Uttar Pradesh. He said Priyanka had very little time to turn the tide in India’s most crucial state, and had to juggle between campaign commitments in Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. “As far as UP is concerned, we gave a good fight. The party organisation wasn’t very strong there and hence Rahul Gandhi sent Priyanka and Scindia there. One should note that Priyanka was made the general secretary just a few months ago. She had very little time to revamp things. According to our internal assessment, we found that Congress has given a stiff fight in many seats and will have positive results in Kushinagar, Kanpur, Barabanki, Unnao.” Chidambaram said he was unaware of Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrashekhar Rao bargaining for a deputy PM post. "He should be asked about it. I can't speak about individuals. All I can say is that all non-BJP parties need to the realize that a non-BJP government needs to be formed that includes KCR and yes, Naveen Patnaik."