relay race sorts

[user_gary]

The race for Rashtrapati Bhavan seems to be in the final leg with a relay race of sorts on between Congress and its allies. And now even the Opposition is being wooed to join in.

Please explain the highlighted ones.

[Anglika]

The race for Rashtrapati Bhavan seems to be in the final leg with a relay race of sorts on between Congress and its allies. And now even the Opposition is being wooed to join in.

Please explain the highlighted words/phrases.

Relay races have four legs, each one run by a different runner. The elections are now entering their final phase [the final leg].

I am not sure quite what the author means by "a relay race of sorts between Congress and its allies" - I think he simply means they are in competition with each other.