Many meetings later PM question remains unresolved Wednesday, May 19 2004 13:22 Hrs (IST)
New Delhi:
Congress president Sonia Gandhi today (May 19, 2004) met CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet, apparently to seek approval of the Left parties for the candidature of Manmohan Singh for Prime Ministership.
Upon arrival of Sonia to meet Surjeet, CPM spokesman and politburo member Sitaram Yechuri told reporters that though there was no formal communication as of now from
Congress, "it looks like senior Congress member Manmohan Singh would be the next Prime Minister".
"During the meeting, Sonia is likely to communicate the decision of Congress to us," Yechuri said.
The Left parties do not have any objection to Manmohan Singh becoming the Prime Minister, he said, adding the Left parties would go with Surjeet's decision.
Earlier, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh had met Surjeet to discuss the emerging political developments.
Sonia Gandhi met Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi as part of her efforts to get the backing of partners and allies for a new leader of the coalition to head the Government, in the wake of her decision not to take up Prime Ministership.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Laloo Prasad Yadav gave a letter of support of his party, expressing full backing to a Congress-led Government to Sonia Gandhi when she met him in New Delhi today.
Gandhi drove to the residence of Yadav after her parleys with Surjeet.
Attacking outgoing Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Yadav said after Gandhi's refusal to become the Prime Minister, "all the games of Vajpayee and RSS (Rashtriya Janata Dal) have been defeated... we have defeated the fascist forces," he said.
He said, "Ab Vajpayee kahin muh dikhane ke layak nahi raha (Vajpayee will not be able to face the public now)."
Asked specifically whether the RJD would support Manmohan Singh as a Prime Minister, he said the country came first for the party and not any individual.
"The question is not of any individual but of the nation. We are committed to Sonia Gandhi and have done our duty (by giving the letter of support)," he said.
Asked whether the RJD would be a part of the Government or would it extend support to it from outside, he said this issue would be decided later.
