Sharad Pawar calls on Sonia

Congress President has held consultations with NCP leader Sharad Pawar and reached out to RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Lok Janshakti President Ram Vilas Paswan, apparently laying the ground for government formation after election results are out on Saturday.

Pawar, who appeared to have given mixed signals with his partymen pushing his claims for prime ministership, drove to Gandhi's residence last night and held discussions for over 30 minutes, UPA sources said.

Apart from that the Congress president also spoke on on telephone to Lalu Prasad and Paswan as TV exit polls predicted a slight edge for the Congress-led UPA in the tight race for power at the Centre.

During the campaign, there was a lot of bad blood between leaders of Congress and RJD, LJP and SP, the troika forming the Fourth Front, but Sonia scrupulously kept herself out of the war of words.

Highly placed sources said Sonia was in regular touch with allies and the party would wait for small outfits to open their cards once the results are out.