New Delhi: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj, who has strongly opposed Congress president Sonia Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister, today (May 18, 2004) met President A P J Abdul Kalam and expressed her "pain and anguish" over the issue.

Emerging from a 30-minute meeting, Swaraj declined to share with reporters her discussion with the President but said he "heard me as I narrated my inner feelings to him".

"The President is occupying a constitutional position and he will decide," she said.

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Swaraj said that she was determined to carry out her resolve to tonsure her head, wear white clothes, sleep on the floor and eat only roasted grams if Gandhi takes over as Prime Minister.

"I cannot withstand crowing a foreigner as the Prime Minister of my country," she said dismissing suggestions that her party was not with her.

Swaraj said several individuals and organisations which were opposed to Gandhi's candidature for Prime Ministership, would co-ordinate their efforts and if need arises "we can start a countrywide protest".

Asked why she was opposed to Gandhi as a Prime Minister when she had been accepted as the leader of Opposition, Swaraj said, "While the job of the leader of Opposition is only to corner the Government, the Prime Minister runs the country and is privy to all the Defence secrets."

Criticising the Left parties, she said they were not joining the Congress-led coalition as they wanted to enjoy "power without accountability".