Mumbai: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pramod Mahajan has expressed surprise over media eulogising Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her refusal in accepting the post of Prime Ministership.

Speaking at the conclusion of two-day State executive meeting of the party today (Jun 6, 2004), the BJP general secretary was surprised that the Congress president was being donned the status of "demi-God" although her party could not secure majority on its own, party sources said.

"Mahajan was critical that people were painting that the Congress has defeated the BJP in the Parliamentary polls, although the former succeeded to bag just 147 seats out of over 500 seats of Lok Sabha," State BJP spokesperson, Madhu Chavan, said.

Mahajan further said the Congress could form a Government only because of the support of the Left parties who have nearly 60 seats under their belt, party sources added.

"But defeat is defeat," Mahajan told leaders at the meeting, which was called to discuss party's preparations for forthcoming Assembly polls.

Mahajan also took a dig at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar who stated that he took the Agriculture and Food ministry since it was a subject of his like.

"Why did Pawar not ask for the same earlier? (in Rao Government)," Mahajan quipped and said Pawar had to accept what he was offered, sources claimed.