Chennai/Bangalore: In the wake of Congress' Simla Conclave decision to project Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on July 11 gave notice that they may rake up her foreign origin as an issue during the Lok Sabha elections.

"We, at our Chintan Baithak at Mumbai, had decided to make the development and performance of NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government as the election issue. But now that the Congress, at their Manthan Shivir at Simla has decided to project Sonia Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate, this might also become an election issue," BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters.

In Bangalore, RSS spokesman Ram Madhav said his organisation would take a position on Gandhi as Prime Ministerial candidate when it becomes an "issue".

Asked by reporters if Gandhi as Prime Minister would be acceptable for the RSS, he initially said, "It's for the people to decide."

However, he added, "It's not an issue now. When she (Gandhi) is projected as Prime Minister, everybody will express their views."

PTI