New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, who met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, today (May 14, 2004) said that the issue of Gandhi heading the new Government would be discussed by all the allies and prospective partners in a day or two and a decision taken.

He also said his party's Working Committee will decide whether to join the new Government but made it clear that NCP would help and support the Congress in providing a stable coalition.

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"The issue (of Gandhi becoming Prime Minister) did not come up during my meeting with her and no decision has been taken. It will be decided by all parties in a day or two," Pawar, who had kept aside his party's Opposition to a person of foreign origin occupying the top post before entering into an alliance with Congress, said.

A committee to draft a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the new coalition would be headed by Manmohan Singh and "all those who fought together and those who want to join the new coalition will sit together and discuss the issue and take a decision."

He was replying to a question whether a decision has been taken on the issue of Prime Ministership in the backdrop of his earlier reservations over Gandhi's foreign origin.