Sonia unchallenged, says Arjun

To a question on speculations regarding those “close” to Sonia and the corresponding influence they enjoyed, Singh said that such speculations had existed from the time of Nehru. Asked to comment on the Congress image as a house divided, he said that differences within the party were not a new phenomenon. However, people had now come to realise that in order to provide a viable alternative to the BJP-led government, they will have to overcome thesedifferences. On support from the Left parties if, he said their anti-Congress platform had never been “genuine”. Besides, he said, the Congress had always been “left of Centre”.

Replying to a question regarding a change in Sonia Gandhi’s wait-and-watch policy and her comment that the Congress was “ready to form an alternative government”, he said, “She has only drawn the attention of the Congress MPs to realities.”

“The Congress president has always been clear in what she believes in. Earlier when she found that we do not have the numbers to form the government she made it clear that the Congress would be a responsible opposition.” Asked how long he expected the government to last, he said, “I cannot put a date on it.” On how many “like-minded” parties there were in Delhi currently, he said, “Most parties in the Opposition have a common perception on most issues.”

SHIV SENA: To a question on whether the Sena had a moral right to contest elections in the wake of the Sri Krishna Commissionreport, Arjun Singh said Sena “definitely opened itself to grave doubts about its eligibility to function as a political party”. It was a matter which deserved the attention of the Election Commission.