New Delhi: Sonia is meeting the pre-poll allies on Wednesday but unlike 2004, this time around she will be calling the shots.
Sources have made it clear that armed with a good tally, Congress has nothing to fear and will not tolerate any arm-twisting by allies on ministerial berths.
Brimming with confidence, Sonia and Manmohan are ready to confront their allies and dictate terms for a change.
Sources have told CNN-IBN that a five-year term and stunning tally has given the duo the confidence not to succumb to any ally pressure.
Back in 2004, Sonia and PM had to frequently bow to ally pressure with DMK, NCP, RJD and LJP demanding lucrative portfolios.
Also, Singh had to frequently put his policies and decisions on backburner due to tantrums and threats from allies. All this is set to change.
Which is why despite having a comfortable tally, and parties like SP, RJD, BSP rushing in with unconditional support, no chances are being taken. Independents are being won over, smaller and less-demanding parties are being wooed so much so that a keen Ajit Singh is being told to merge his party - Rashtriya Lok Dal - with Congress in exchange for a berth for his son Jayant.
Allies seem to be sensing this change in the air. In fact, sources have told CNN-IBN that allies meeting Sonia on Wednesday have already been briefed that this time she may not play ball.
So Karunanidhi's wishlist of seven ministerial berths for his party, including his children Kanimozhi and Azhagiri may have to be scaled down.
There is no guarantee too that NCP’s Sharad Pawar may get agriculture or Praful Patel may get to head civil aviation.
“We have common ideology and we want to give the country a good governance,” says Patel.
Sonia's once favourite ally, Lalu Prasad, is kept waiting, unlike the past. 10 Janpath will not be easily accessible to him. For five years, Sonia has been struggling to fulfill the coalition dharma at the cost of its individuality. But a 201 tally is giving the Congress a chance to raise its head.
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