Parivar keeps Cong guessing on Sonia

According to agencies, Naidu told a media conference in Chennai: ‘‘We, at our Chintan Baithak at Mumbai, had decided to make development and the performance of the NDA Government an election issue. But now that the Congress, at its Manthan Baithak at Shimla has decided to project Sonia Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate, this (foreign-origin issue) might also become an election issue.’’

Replying to questions, he said: ‘‘You have to wait and see if the issue will be raised in the campaign. Who runs the Congress party is their business. But, we are concerned about who runs the nation,’’ he said.

Naqvi told mediapersons: ‘‘The foreign-origin will not be an issue. It is up to the people, they might make it an issue. The next election issue would focus on Vajpayee versus Sonia Gandhi. This might come up when both are compared.’’

He said the proposed alternative alliance has proved to be a non-starter as there are no takers for it in the Opposition ranks. ‘‘The Congress-led alliance is on the verge of death even before its birth.’’

RSS spokesman Ram Madhav also avoided a categorical answer when asked by mediapersons in Bangalore, if Sonia’s origin would be an issue. According to agencies, he said the RSS would take a stand when it becomes an ‘‘issue’’.

A journalist sought to know if she would be acceptable as a prime minister to the RSS. Madhav initially said: ‘‘It is for the people to decide.’’