President's task becomes easier

With the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance emerging the clear leader, President Pratibha Patil's task of inviting the largest party or coalition to form the government has been made easier.

Since the UPA has left its principal Opposition, the National Democratic Alliance, way behind, an invitation to the Congress-led alliance to form the government is inevitable.

With the Bharatiya Janata Party admitting that the UPA was ahead, the NDA is unlikely to toy with the idea of staking claim.

BJP spokesperson Balbir Punj said, "We concede UPA is ahead."

Admitting that the Congress "seems to have the upper hand", senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said, "We are lagging behind," adding that the party will analyse what went wrong.

According to Rashtrapati Bhavan officials, President Patil will meet former attorney general Ashok Desai to consult on the formation of government.

Officials in the Presidential Secretariat said Patil was unlikely to broaden the consultation process with the legal experts in view of the clear picture emerging after the counting.