'Queen maker' Laloo urges Sonia to reconsider decision Tuesday, May 18 2004 20:20 Hrs (IST)
New Delhi:
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Laloo Prasad Yadav today (May 18, 2004) urged Congress president Sonia Gandhi to reconsider her decision not to accept the Prime Minister's post and asked her to convene an immediate meeting of alliance partners and supporting parties for their renewed backing to her.
After meeting Gandhi at her residence, he told reporters that he told her not to be carried away by what the "communal forces" have been saying and requested her to erase such feelings from her mind and revise her decision.
"I have made it clear to her that RJD has pledged its support to her and there was no question of any rethinking. Leaders of all alliance partners and supporting parties have chosen her and hence there should be no reconsideration," he said.
Yadav asked Gandhi to convene a fresh meeting of all allies where they can renew their support.
Even before Gandhi announced her decision, Yadav while replying to reporters' questions asserted that Sonia Gandhi's "re-thinking" was not a set back to the secular alliance.
"I do not consider it as a jolt to the secular alliance," he said.