NDA to boycott Sonia's swearing-in

BJP and allies will boycott Cong chief's swearing-in as PM to "express people's sentiment". Only Vajpayee will attend.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies said on Monday that they would boycott the swearing-in of Congress president Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister to "express people's sentiments".

HT Image

Outgoing Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would, however, attend the ceremony, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party said.

"We will be abstaining from the swearing-in ceremony to express the people's sentiment," he said.

A section of the BJP has stepped up a campaign against Gandhi's foreign roots saying only Indians should occupy the highest elected office.

The Congress and its allies defeated the BJP and its allies in just-concluded elections and has named Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate.