VOA标准英语2009-India's Congress Party Starts Work on Forming a

In India, the ruling Congress Party got down to the job of choosing partners and forming a new government, a day after it beat forecasts to win a better-than-expected victory in general elections. The Congress Party-led alliance has won 261 seats in the 543 member parliament, while its main rival, the opposition¹ Bharatiya Janata Party trails with 159 seats. The remaining seats have been won by an array of smaller parties.
　
Indian Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi talks with media in the backdrop of a poster of Indian Congress Party leaders Sonia Gandhi, left, and Manmohan Singh, during a press conference in New Delhi, India, 05 May 2009

Top leaders of the Congress Party met in New Delhi Sunday to identify small groups and lawmakers who will help the party get a parliamentary majority.

The Congress party-led alliance won what is being hailed as a "spectacular victory" in a country where no party has come close to a parliamentary majority in nearly two decades.

The Congress-led alliance is less than a dozen seats short of an outright² majority in parliament.

Congress Party spokesman, Rajiv Shukla says the party can easily pick up the support it needs to craft a workable coalition³.

"Well, we are very close to the magic figure of 272, people have given us a clear mandate⁴, lot many small groups and independents they are available, more than willing to support the government," said Shukla.

Political analysts⁵ say although the Congress Party will continue to head a coalition government, its strong showing will give it ample room to implement⁶ policies without being hamstrung by regional and leftist parties, as happened during its last term in office.

Top Congress Party leaders are also discussing the formation of the Cabinet, which is expected to see the induction⁷ of some younger leaders.

There is some belief that will include Rahul Gandhi, son of Congress Party President, Sonia Gandhi. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said he would like him to join the government.

Rahul Gandhi is being toasted as the man who led the party's resurgence⁸, particularly in the key state of Uttar Pradesh, where the party had been decimated in recent decades.

Gandhi's strategy has been to energize⁹ younger leaders and voters in a country where most politicians are old, but two thirds of the population is under 35 years old.

Gandhi says reviving the party remains¹⁰ his main goal.

"My job is to change the politics of this country, using youngsters," said Gandhi. "My job is to try and empower youngsters in this country."

Rahul Gandhi is the heir apparent of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, which has been at the helm of the Congress Party for decades. He is already being projected as a future prime minister.

Political analysts have called the decisive victory of the Congress Party a vote for stability in a country tired of the enormous influence wielded¹¹ by regional, leftist and caste based parties in the federal government. Many of these parties - particularly leftist parties fared poorly in the elections.

The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is also discussing the reasons which led to its poor performance.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

7 induction   

n.感应，感应现象

参考例句：

• His induction as a teacher was a turning point in his life.他就任教师工作是他一生的转折点。
• The magnetic signals are sensed by induction coils.磁信号由感应线圈所检测。

8 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。

9 energize   

vt.给予(某人或某物)精力、能量

参考例句：

• It is used to energize the city.它的作用是为城市供给能量。
• This is a great way to energize yourself and give yourself more power!这种方法非常棒，可以激活你的能量，让你有更多的活力！

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 wielded   

手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响）

参考例句：

• The bad eggs wielded power, while the good people were oppressed. 坏人当道，好人受气
• He was nominally the leader, but others actually wielded the power. 名义上他是领导者，但实际上是别人掌握实权。