Sonia's leadership non-negotiable: CM

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, FEB. 22. The Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, has called upon the Congress(I) workers to stand united and express their solidarity in reposing their faith in Ms. Sonia Gandhi's leadership in the elections to the AICC(I) and the KPCC(I) to be announced shortly.

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, he said the Congress(I) workers should ensure the party's progress. Ms. Sonia Gandhi's dynamic leadership must be viewed as ``non-negotiable,'' he asserted.

Mr. Krishna said it had become essential for the party to further consolidate and strengthen its position to take over the reins of administration. It had become imperative that Ms. Sonia Gandhi should lead the way. It was the party, prior to previous election, that persuaded Ms. Sonia Gandhi to head the party, he said and added: ``That led to a phenomenal success.'' She took upon herself the task of taking the party on a positive path, infusing strength and determination in party activists to work in unison, he added.

The Chief Minister said the party had undertaken the enrollment of members at all levels. Election to the post of KPCC(I) president would be held along with elections to the post of AICC(I) president. Strengthening the party was of paramount importance for which the leadership of Ms. Sonia Gandhi was essential. When she took over as the party president, many stalwarts in the Congress(I) left the party. Similarly, many did return to the Congress(I) later, and that was a testimony of the strong leadership quality in Ms. Sonia Gandhi, he added.

Even those who deserted the party on the eve of the elections did understand later the positive role that Ms. Sonia Gandhi had played in bettering the prospects of the party, both at the national and the regional level, Mr. Krishna said. ``It is my personal wish and my party's desire that she should continue for the next term also as party President.''

Asked if he was saying that only Ms. Sonia Gandhi could put the party on the right track, Mr. Krishna said that with the elections to the party organisation coming up, as the State unit president he wanted to appeal to party workers to stand united.

Dwelling at length on Ms. Sonia Gandhi's leadership qualities, Mr. Krishna said that the Nehru family was indispensable to the Congress(I). He said that though she had resigned the post following certain accusations on her nationality, she had conceded to ``our persistent request and withdrew her resignation. This shows her love for the party and also discounts charges that she was after power.''

Asked if the recent meeting between him and former Prime Minister, Mr. P. V. Narasimha Rao, had prompted him today to shower accolades on Ms. Sonia Gandhi's leadership qualities, he replied in the negative.

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