Gandhi moves swiftly to build new government

Sonia Gandhi worked swiftly today to build a new coalition government for India around her family’s Congress party after a stunning upset election victory, but refused to confirm whether she would be the next prime minister.

The party that led India to freedom from British colonial rule and then ran the country for 40 years is returning to power after an eight-year hiatus, riding a surge of discontent among poor voters who felt left behind by the economic reforms championed by now ousted Prime Minster Atal Bihari Vajpayee.