07-19-2008, 07:00 PM
<b>Sonia asks party MPs to 'stand solidly' behind govt.</b>
New Delhi (PTI): With the trust vote becoming a tight race, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday asked party MPs to stand solidly behind the Government.
Gandhi told the MPs to "stand solidly behind the Government and vote for it," party General Secretary Digvijay Singh told reporters.
Congress MP from Amethi Rahul Gandhi was in the group of party MPs from Uttar Pradesh who met the Congress President.
AICC leaders emphasised that no meaning should be attached to the absence of some MPs during the meetings with Gandhi as everyone has been "accounted for".
They said party MP from Karnataka, Ambrish, who has not been able to come because of his tight schedule would be in good time for the confidence vote. The same is the case with two other party MPs, including V Naik.
Congress media department chief Veerappa Moily, who is also in-charge of Andhra Pradesh and Assam, said those MPs from the state who could not come have intimated him about their reasons.
During their brief state-wise meetings with Gandhi, the MPs raised their local issues and gave suggestions on ways to strengthen the organisation.
Earlier, Moily had asserted that there was no question of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh resigning before the July 22 trust vote as he will comfortably win the trial of strength.
"The question does not arise as he will win the trust vote comfortably," Moily said on being asked by reporters whether Singh would step down before Tuesday's vote in the Lok Sabha.
New Delhi (PTI): With the trust vote becoming a tight race, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday asked party MPs to stand solidly behind the Government.
Gandhi told the MPs to "stand solidly behind the Government and vote for it," party General Secretary Digvijay Singh told reporters.
Congress MP from Amethi Rahul Gandhi was in the group of party MPs from Uttar Pradesh who met the Congress President.
AICC leaders emphasised that no meaning should be attached to the absence of some MPs during the meetings with Gandhi as everyone has been "accounted for".
They said party MP from Karnataka, Ambrish, who has not been able to come because of his tight schedule would be in good time for the confidence vote. The same is the case with two other party MPs, including V Naik.
Congress media department chief Veerappa Moily, who is also in-charge of Andhra Pradesh and Assam, said those MPs from the state who could not come have intimated him about their reasons.
During their brief state-wise meetings with Gandhi, the MPs raised their local issues and gave suggestions on ways to strengthen the organisation.
Earlier, Moily had asserted that there was no question of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh resigning before the July 22 trust vote as he will comfortably win the trial of strength.
"The question does not arise as he will win the trust vote comfortably," Moily said on being asked by reporters whether Singh would step down before Tuesday's vote in the Lok Sabha.