"The party can't control anything outside of politics these days."

In addition to the Congress, the party controls 17 of the country's 32 states.

But it was still too early to say which party would control Parliament.

"Not long ago the party really controlled everything in this hospital," he said.

But he does not see it moving much further until after the election decides which party will control the next Congress.

In it, the parties involved control the process and the outcome.

Today, the party controls only four of India's 28 states.

The Conservative party controlled the council from the first election in 1973 through to 1995.

The party in communist systems may control the state apparatus.

That process could ultimately help determine which party controls Congress.