New Delhi: Former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi's son Varun Gandhi today (Feb 16, 2004) said his aunt and Congress president Sonia Gandhi would not be acceptable to the country as the Prime Minister.

However, he would not campaign against her or his cousins Rahul and Priyanka in the coming Lok Sabha polls, said Varun, who met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee along with his mother to communicate to him about their decision to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"I respect my aunt and my cousins and there is no question of criticising them. I will not speak against them," he said adding, "The foreign origin of my aunt is an issue, but not the main issue. There are other issues also."

The main issue would be the competence of the Prime Minister and "we have to turn a developing country into a developed one", Varun, son of late Sanjay Gandhi, told TV channel 'Aaj Tak'.

To a question whether Sonia Gandhi would not be acceptable as the Prime Minister, he said, "Yes, I agree."

Asked as to how he viewed the situation in view of the family members coming out in different directions, Varun said, "The situation was quite different 20 years ago...political thinking may differ...they are alright in Congress and we will be in BJP."

To a question as to what prompted him to decide to join BJP, he said the country needed experienced leaders and Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani are there.