Sonia holds 'real power' though PM in-charge, says Khurshid

Union Minister Salman Khurshid says that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi holds the 'real power' in the UPA coalition though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was very much in charge of the government.

Union Minister Salman Khurshid says that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi holds the 'real power' in the UPA coalition though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was very much in charge of the government.

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"Of course everybody knows that she (Sonia Gandhi) is the real power, but he (Manmohan Singh) is the real Prime Minister," Corporate and Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told CNN-IBN on its Devil's Advocate programme.

Khurshid's reponse came when he was asked whether the real power in India was Sonia Gandhi and not Singh.

To a question on who between Gandhi and Singh decides whether a Minister continues in Cabinet or not, Khurshid said the Congress president and the Prime Minister decide it "together".

When asked whether it is not infringment of the prerogatives of the Prime Minister with Gandhi also joining him to take decision on a Cabinet Minister, Khurshid said, "no it's not an infringment. Of course he is a Prime Minister, he must take responsiblity. But she (Gandhi) is the leader of our party."

To a question why Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy and Sports Minister MS Gill should continue in their offices when several agencies are probing the alleged CWG scam, he said, "if there is something that look substantive and serious we take action... But you can't execute a person before you reach a point of final judgement."

Replying to another question whether Prime Minister was weak to ask even one of his five Cabinet Ministers allegedly facing charges of corruption to step down, he said, "you can't say about him that he wouldn't want to take action if he was satisfied that we have reached the stage where action is necessary."