Sonia running away before LS battle, says BJP

The BJP here today said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been forced to retreat even before the Lok Sabha polls have begun.

Reacting to Sonia’s remark that becoming prime minister was not her priority, BJP general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said: ‘‘It appears that the commander of the Opposition is running away from the battlefield even before the battle has begun. How would an army, whose leader is fleeing the field, fight?’’

Naqvi said Sonia’s remark was not unexpected, given the fact that she was ‘‘confused’’: Her party first resolved in Pachmarhi against forming a coalition. Later, in Shimla, it adopted a pro-alliance line.