ELECTION EYE - Congress-Left could come together after polls

Rahul Gandhi (R), son of chief of ruling Congress party Sonia Gandhi, speaks during an election campaign rally at Bhatinda in Punjab April 14, 2009.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The following is a snapshot of recent developments in India's general election campaign. (The sources are mentioned in brackets).

* The Congress party and the communists could come together after the election, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in West Bengal.

But Prakash Karat, chief of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the largest of the left parties, ruled out chances of a post-poll alliance with Congress. (The Times of India, TV)

* Rahul Gandhi, son of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, said he was not interested in becoming prime minister.

Addressing a media conference, Gandhi said the top post was not his aim and he is striving for democratisation of the Congress party and adequate representation for youth in the party leadership. (The Indian Express)

* Prime Minister Manmohan Singh criticised the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for weak leadership. Singh singled out Lal Krishna Advani, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, saying he was strong in speech but weak in action. (The Indian Express)

* Lal Krishna Advani, the prime ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party, India's main opposition, has demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi, the Congress party chief for describing the BJP as a bigger threat to the country's stability than militant groups. (Hindustan Times)