Coalition will consider alternative for PM's post: Paswan
PTI | ByPress Trust of India, New Delhi
May 18, 2004 07:44 PM IST
Lok Janshakti Party has said that the allies would consider an alternative candidate for PM post if Cong was unable to persuade Sonia to accept it.
Congress ally Lok Janshakti Party on Monday said the constituents of the coalition would consider an alternative candidate for Prime Ministership if Congress was not able to persuade Sonia Gandhi to accept it.
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"They informed me that Sonia Gandhi refused to head the government because she does not want any controversy over her name", Paswan said.
He said Fotedar conveyed to him that Gandhi wants a secular government should be formed and run as smoothly as possible and it should not be marred by controversies.
Singh and Fotedar conveyed to Paswan Gandhi's request that allies should not insist on her name for the Prime Ministers's post.
After senior Congress leaders Natwar Singh and ML Fotedar called on him in the midst of raging reports that Gandhi was having a rethink, LJSP President Ram Vilas Paswan said the allies would try to persuade her to give up her reluctance.
But if the Congress leaders and the allies were not able to persuade her then the allies and the Congress leaders would have to sit together to sort out the issue, he said.