Sanjay Raut hints at Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar joining INDIA bloc

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut remained confident of INDIA bloc forming a government at the Centre. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Raut hinted at the possibility of Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar joining the INDIA bloc.

"BJP doesn't have numbers. They want to cobble up support and give an unstable government. Modi can't run this (coalition) type of government. Modi was overconfident of his ability. Throwing promises such as Modi sarkar, Modi ki guarantee, and what not. Now he to get support. If they try to form a coalition, then it won't last long. We have the mandate. We still have 250 MPs, according to our calculation. The figures shown on TV are false. "

When asked about Naidu and Kumar pledging support to the NDA, Raut said, "Naidu and Kumar are friends with all. I don't think they would join the party which can put the democratic institutions in jeopardy."

Talking to reporters, Raut said his party will not oppose if Congress leader Rahul Gandhi decides to lead the INDIA bloc government and be the prime ministerial face.

The INDIA bloc leaders will meet in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the further course of action.Raut also said PM Modi should accept that he has faced moral defeat as his party did not get a majority to form the government and that the Modi brand is now finished.

"Chandrababu and Nitish Kumar have to decide whether they want to go with an autocrat and work in a democratic system. I don't think they will go with an autocrat," Raut said.

"Modi ji is not forming a government for the third time," he claimed.

As per the Lok Sabha election results, the BJP has bagged 240 seats, 32 short of an absolute majority.

With support from key allies N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Nitish Kumar's JD(U), which won 16 and 12 seats in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, respectively, and other alliance partners, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) crossed the halfway mark.