Sonia refuses to be the PM

Hi All

At first, I was wanting to put this in one of the active Sonia threads..then decided otherwise.

By opeing this as a new thred I want it to get the attention it deserves.

read the link for details:

http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/may/18sb.htm

Manmohan Singh or Pranab Mukharjee in my views would make a better choice.

Sonia is not my choice not for the reason that she is born in italy or that she is a lady but for the reason that there are better choices available within the Congress.

Ashish

hey, "is refusing" is not the same as "has refused". wait till we see it on timesofindia or from Sonia herself, or rediff at least naming their sources.

"reliable sources" close to Beckham family also said to the press that Becks were considering trial separation

i am not expressing any view on whether Sonia'll make a good PM but i have seen so many internet news prove to be ducks. i think the name of the thread is misleading

Ya sure volga..and you made me do a little more research

timesofindia, sify, and Indian express have all put-up the same news a little differently ..and yes none have used the term "has refused"..so its a little wait and watch.

Express has said the source to be Reuters, but have used the word "Reluctant'

Name of the thread, I have picked-up from the 1st news cliping itself...
I am willing to change it if required

Ashish

The Congress and their allies seem to be in turmoil with their chosen "leader" developing cold feet!! BBC World just reported through its Delhi link that a new "leader" is likely to be chosen !!

Is this the party which claims to have won the "people's mandate" to rule??

This is the pitiable scene even before a Government is formed !!!

Shimla: Thanks for backing me up on the news front

I don't find it surprising at all, as Leadership has been the biggest problem of Congress after Rajiv Gandhi and with this it looks that the problem PERSISTS..

Lets hope that the new the 'leader' does a good job for Congress and India

Given the tirade of abuse she is facing from various parties maybe this is the right decision for her personally although she has left it until mighty late in the day and the congress party have been caught with their pants down!!
And there is the question; should she put her personal feelings before the wishes of her country??
Personally I see it as bit of a kick in the teeth for democracy. Still your not the first democracy to hang out it's dirty laundry at election time!

Just watch now, the howls of derision will continue from the losing side, "the voters were duped will be their rallying cry", "Sonia sells out!!!"
Damned if you, do damned if you don't!!
Who in their right mind would want to be a politician!!

So what of Manmohan Singh shimla how does he shape up as the next prime minister?? I confess to knowing very little about him except that he apparently was the guy who got the ball rolling towards a new India with his reforms of the Indian market back in 91.
Do you think this will be a acceptable face to the BJP and others indeed, will the people who lets face it voted for the Gandhi image, accept this latecomer to the post???

Mmm interesting goings on over there!!

Ashish,

You're right about the leadership issue facing the Congress after the late Rajiv Gandhi. Elsewhere on this forum I had said that time will tell us whether Mrs. Gandhi will make a good PM or not. Time has indeed told us, far too sooner than expected, and how!!

cyberhippie,

First of all, its great to have you back on the forum and hope you had a great trip!

Manmohan Singh is indeed a better candidate for the PM's post in my opinion and he'll be accepted by the majority. Of course, one can't please everyone !

It's probably a shrewd move. She'll stop being the issue, and Congress will be able to govern with less of an obstructionist stance from the BJP (one MP asserted she would refuse to address Sonia as "Prime Minister").

Sonia will be able to manage the party without being its figurehead and primary target.

There's another angle to it.
There was a news on indiatimes that Mrs. Gandhi's relations back in Italy now(when she was elected to be the PM) feared for her life. Its quite possible they had a significant part in influencing Mrs. Gandhi's decision of not being the PM.

well, it was good for the sensex- It got back half it's loss!!
Maybe now Congress will be able to shake the cult of the Nehru dynasty, which has become an albatross IMHO.

a bit off topic, but I take it from recent posts that Dalal St. doesn't have the same impact on India that Wall St. has in USA?

We'll know Manmohan's acceptability tommorow, a 150 point gap open in the Sensex will say a lot.

I am curious to know from Indians if Sonia is not that acceptable, qualifications aside. The founder of the INC was British, Annie Besant was well, Irish ! Mirabehn (sp?) Brit again, Andrews too, all people very close to Gandhi for those of you wondering. I mean all the above mentioned should have been cast away for their origins, as spies and the like.

From Yahoo.A congress party worker threatens to shoot himself if sonia gandhi doesn't become PM. Thought this would give some of you a raise.