Sonia no to becoming PM

Congress President Sonia Gandhi today strongly disapproved of some party MPs' request to her to become the prime minister.

It had come from a group of Congress MPs led by Ajit Jogi who had launched a signature campaign in support of this demand and managed to get 24 other MPs to sign the letter. Gandhi recorded her biggest-ever election victory by winning the Rae Bareli with a margin of over 4 lakh votes.

She also indicated that Rahul Gandhi who had led her campaign in Rae Bareli could be given more organisational responsibilities in the next AICC reshuffle, expected shortly. She was also non-committal on heading the National Advisory Council (NAC), if and when it is exempted as an office of profit.

Sonia, who had called the media to her residence today following her massive victory in Rae Bareli bypoll, thanked the people of her constituency.

Asked about the MPs' letter requesting her to become PM, a visibly upset Congress president said, "Yeh bilkul galat baat hai, aisi baatein party mein nahin honi chahiye (It is not proper at all; such things should not happen in the party)."

The letter, signed by 25 Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs, said that the mandate given by the people of Rae Bareli was a categorical assertion of the hopes and aspirations of the entire nation that "you now directly and immediately assume the burden and glory of the Government of India."

Addressed to "Revered Leader", the letter said that she should give Rahul responsibility of the organisation and he should not only lead Uttar Pradesh but the entire Congress party.

Welcoming the results of Assembly elections, the Congress president today said there was "disappointment" in Kerala and West Bengal, but she was happy with the results in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. "It also appears that we will form the government in Assam," she said.

The Congress president specially mentioned the 'hard work' of Rahul and his team in Rae Bareli. Asked if he could be given bigger responsibilities in the organisation, she said, "This can be." To another question that whether she would agree to head the NAC now, she said, "I cannot say."