CPM hints at Sonia heading new Govt
Veteran CPM leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet also said Samajwadi would be a part of the new Govt, but remained non-committal on whether the Left would join it or not.
The CPI(M) indicated on Friday that Congress president Sonia Gandhi will head the new Government at the Centre.
"Do you want any other name? Do you require a long list," shot back CPI(M) General Secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet when asked by reporters whether any name other than Gandhi has cropped up for Prime Ministership.
Addressing a press conference at his residence after a hectic day of consultations with leaders of various parties, including Gandhi, Surjeet said, Samajwadi Party (SP) will 'participate' in the new Government, but remained non-committal on whether the Left Parties would join the Government.
The Communist leader, who also met NCP leader Sharad Pawar on Friday said, he also would participate in the Government led by Gandhi.
When referred to Pawar's earlier opposition to Gandhi's nomination to the top post because of her "foreign origin", Surjeet said, "it is an old issue. Why do you want to raise it now? It was (an issue) long back and is over for NCP."
He said SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav had put no demands and only wanted to "go along with CPI(M)".
Asked about formulating the Common Minimum Programme (CMP), Surjeet said "there was no difficulty about it".
To another question whether he support setting up of a steering committee, he said "let the Government be formed".
The CPM veteran said that all those who fought against the BJP should come together and help in running the Government.
"We succeeded in coming together in the struggle against BJP and I am concerned first and foremost that the Government be formed by those who opposed BJP," he said.