As the curtains fell on the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign today, the Congress kept its post-result options open with party chief Rahul Gandhi banking on the support of regional players to stitch a wide anti-BJP alliance after May 23.

He played cautious when asked on party’s prospects and post-result strategy. He did not get drawn into the number game on questions about BJP president Amit Shah’s “Abki baar 300 paar” slogan. “I will not prejudge what people will decide on May 23. People are the master and they will decide. We will talk on the basis of what the people decide. I will not comment on what people will do on May 23,” Gandhi said.

“I respect the fact that the BSP and the SP fought the UP elections on their own. I also told Priyanka and Jyotiraditya to take forward the Congress ideology in UP. Ideologically speaking, Mayawatiji, Akhilesh Yadavji, Mamata Banerjeeji and Chandrababu Naidu are on the same page as the Congress. I do not see them supporting the BJP,” Gandhi said, indicating hopes of a possible anti-BJP coalition with the support of regional parties.

He further hinted that his mother and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and former PM Manmohan Singh would continue to remain active in the party. “Sonia Gandhiji, Manmohan Singhji have huge experience. I am not Narendra Modi. I don’t disregard experience. We will use their experience in the party,” he said.

In a calculated move ahead of the last-phase polling, Gandhi refused to criticise anti-Modi remarks by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and Mayawati and said: “Last I knew Mamataji and Mayawatiji were not in the Congress. Please put these questions to them.”