Sonia rules out possibility of becoming PM candidate

Despite being elected as the Leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party after the 2004 elections,Gandhi had refused to take over the top job and instead given the mantle to Manmohan Singh.

To questions on the issue of Prime Ministerial candidate,Gandhi flashed the party’s manifesto and pointed to Manmohan Singh’s picture on its cover.

On the fate of the UPA in Bihar and UP where the Congress has failed to stitch up alliances,Gandhi said: “This is certainly not the end of the UPA.”

Asked if the Congress would take the support of the Left parties after the elections,Gandhi said it was not possible for her to comment at this juncture and that the issue would be decided after the poll outcome.

To a query if the UPA was now in disarray in the Hindi belt,she said her party has decided to fight the coming Lok Sabha elections alone in some states and in some others such as West Bengal,it was contesting in a pre-poll alliance with Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress.

On the possibility of Banerjee returning to the Congress fold,Gandhi said at present,her party was only having an alliance with TC in West Bengal. There is “no other position”,she said.

On UPA partners making adverse remarks against her party colleagues,but refraining from pointing a finger at her,Gandhi said: “I have not heard any comment about me and my party. You have to enlighten me.”

To a query on reports of PMK breaking away from the alliance in Tamil Nadu,the UPA chairperson said that there was no change,as of now.

On BJP’s accusations that Varun Gandhi’s “communal” outbursts at a rally in Pilibhit was a result of Congress mindset,Gandhi said any sane person would know too well that what was being said by the BJP was “untrue