London: Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who led her party to an impressive election victory, should become the next Prime Minister as the Constitution does not bar an Indian citizen of foreign origin from assuming the top post, non-resident Indian (NRI) industrialist Lord Swraj Paul said today (May 14, 2004).

"I have always maintained that she has as much right to become Prime Minister as any other Indian citizen as long as people vote for her. She should do well as she has lived in a great political environment," Paul, who is also the British Ambassador for Overseas Business, said when asked about his opinion on her becoming the Prime Minister.

"Since the election results, there is no doubt that people have shown that they are happy with Sonia's leadership. She has worked hard to make the party electable again and in my view and what has been the result, she should be the Prime Minister of India and we should not fall into the trap of the foreign origin question because it is not in our Constitution.

In a democracy, Constitution is most important and we must honour it," he said.

He said the electoral verdict has shown the maturity of the Indian democracy.

"This has really shown how mature Indian democracy is and how much people feel their votes matter," he said.

Hailing the outgoing Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for submitting his resignation within two hours of the adverse verdict, Lord Paul said, "It makes all Indians to be proud of and the world to recognise the stability of the country."