New Delhi: A day after her party registered a resounding poll victory, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today (May 14, 2004) said the process of economic reforms would be carried forward by the new Government.

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"The economic reforms were initiated by the Congress, by my husband, and later by Congress Governments. They will be carried forward," Gandhi told two Italian journalists in an interview aired on the BBC.

On talks of her becoming the Prime Minister, Gandhi said, "I am not attached to any position. As far as the Prime Ministership is concerned, it will be decided by our newly-elected members of Parliament."

In the interview at her 10, Janpath, residence, Gandhi insisted on speaking in English.

On the foreign origin issue raked by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies, she said it did not have any impact as could be seen by the results. "The results have shown this," Gandhi said.

On the "India Shining" campaign of the NDA, she said the publicity "badly backfired". "There has been a great deal of progress after Independence but we still have areas where people need support. They said it is shining but it was hurtful to many."

Asked how does it feel, being Italy-born, to become India's Prime Minister, Gandhi retorted, "I am an Indian."

She thanked the people for reposing faith in her and the party which is set to make Government after a gap of eight years.

"I am grateful to the people who placed trust in the party," Gandhi added.