NDA announces it will not boycott swearing-in ceremony

NDA would not boycott the swearing-in ceremony of the Congress-led coalition government if AICC President Sonia Gandhi does not become the Prime Minister, George Fernandes announced on Tuesday.

NDA will not boycott the swearing-in ceremony of the Congress-led coalition government if AICC President Sonia Gandhi does not become the Prime Minister, its convenor George Fernandes announced on Tuesday.

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"It (the issue of who would be the Prime Minsiter) has not been decided. But if she does not become the Prime Minister, we have no problem attending the swearing-in ceremony," Fernandes told reporters here emerging from a 75- minute meeting of NDA presided over by outgoing Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Fernandes said it was for the Left and Congress allies to think over and answer as to how they decided to elect as leader such a "fickle-minded person" who has changed her views (on becoming Prime Minister) four times.

"If she had taken this decision earlier, there would have been no need for us to go this far (announcing boycott of swearing-in ceremony)", he said.