Sonia rubbishes reports on mid-term poll

Cong chief dismisses reports that the ruling party wanted to go for an election in the wake of a survey suggesting rising support for it.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday ruled out a mid-term poll, dismissing rumours that the ruling party wanted to go for an election in the wake of a survey suggesting rising support for it.

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"I don't believe in opinion polls and surveys. I don't take them seriously", she said in Parliament when asked about the speculation over a snap poll.

A survey, conducted by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies for a newspaper and television channel, had said the Congress party alone could win 240 seats if elections were to be held now.

The Congress won 146 seats in the 2004 general elections, while the party-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had won 222 seats.

The poll said the UPA coalition could win 306 seats. The next general election is scheduled in 2009.