New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today (May 13, 2004) said her party will take the lead in the formation of a strong, stable and secular Government at the Centre, but kept the suspense on whether she would be the Prime Minister.

Gandhi said, "The leader of the party will be elected by its elected members."

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Asked if she would stake claim to be the next Prime Minister, Gandhi at the first interaction with the press after the party's victory in the Lok Sabha polls, said, "The leader of the party will be elected by the elected members of the Parliament of the Congress."

When asked if she, as leader of the single largest party would stake claim to form Governments, she said, "Wohi hota hai hamesha (that is the usual practice).

"You will know it tomorrow," she said, adding leaders of Congress allies will be meeting tomorrow to discuss formation of Government.

Asked whether Samajwadi Party would be invited to join the Government, she said, "We first of all call meetings of those parties who have worked in alliance with us."

However, she said, "We are open to working with all like-minded parties."

"Next few days this process of Government formation will gather momentum," she said adding, "Congress party will take lead to ensure that our country has a strong, stable and secular Government."

She also thanked the electorate for reposing faith in the Congress party and other like-minded party.

Asked if the new Government would review POTA she said, "Let us first form the Government and all these issues could be taken up."

She said the people had given a decisive verdict, which is a strong rejection of the BJP-led Government.