New Delhi: Stepping up its tirade against Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Congress today (Apr 28, 2004) said he was "utterly tired and demoralised" and it was for the people to contemplate the level of efficiency he presents now.

"Judging from the speeches the Prime Minister made in Lucknow yesterday, he seems to be utterly tired, demoralised and confused," party spokesman S Jaipal Reddy told reporters.

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"Vajpayee may be tired because of his age or long standing in public life, while he may be demoralised because of reports that NDA (National Democratic Alliance) is lagging far behind Congress and its allies in the Lok Sabha polls," he said.

The Prime Minister was so confused that he was forgetting the political history and was making "ridiculous" charges against Congress, he said recalling Vajpayee's statement in Lucknow that the late Jagjivan Ram had trusted Congress but the party had let him down.

"With this frame of mind, he assured the people that he would not retire until next Lok Sabha polls. It is for the people to contemplate on the level of efficiency the Prime Minister presents now", Reddy said.

On the oft-repeated issue of the successor in BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), Reddy said BJP should take the country into confidence as to who would be Vajpayee's successor as Prime Minister has been talking about his retirement.