Voting results awaited

With results of the Lok Sabha elections coming in a jiffy, thanks to the electronic voting machines, all major political formations and alliances seem to be on top of everyone's minds. It seems quite obvious that both the NDA and the UPA will need to bring in allies with a significant seat share to have any hope of coming to power.
And the race to rope in partners for the formation of the government is at its most crucial stage as all both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party are exploring all possible options.
After taking centre stage in the Congress party's efforts to reach out to allies by meeting NCP chief Sharad Pawar and making a phone call to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, Congress president Sonia Gandhi deputed senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee to meet Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh.
The Congress seems to have realised that unlike in the last elections, this time round, it will probably have to do business with the Samajwadi Party, though it knows that choosing this option could mean some hard bargaining for some high profile ministries.
On the other hand, while JD(U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has made it clear that he is with the NDA, one of his senior leaders Sharad Yadav has indicated that his party is keeping its options open.

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