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Gandhi shows reluctance to be new PM

NEW DELHI, May 18 (UPI) -- India plunged into a political uncertainty after Italian-born Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi declined to become the new Prime Minister.

Gandhi, who was elected as the leader by her Congress Party and allies, stunned the nation a day before she was expected to take up country's top most political job.

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India's outgoing ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have launched a campaign against Gandhi to stop a foreign-born person from becoming the prime minister.

Gandhi, 57, widow of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, has led Congress party to a surprise victory in the recently held federal elections.

Congress Party has summoned a meeting its newly elected lawmakers to ponder over the crisis caused by Gandhi's backtracking.

"We are shocked and horrified, simply horrified," said a senior Congress leader, Jayanti Natarajan. "I can't conceive of anyone else becoming Prime Minister."

BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has said that she would quit her seat in the parliament, shave her head, wear white robes and eat roasted grams as a mark of protest against Sonia Gandhi becoming Prime Minister.

Swaraj said she couldn't tolerate a foreign-born person to lead the country of more than one billion people. "It's matter of shame for all of us (Indians)."

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Sources say that the Congress Party is likely to persuade Gandhi to become the new Prime Minister. If she doesn't agree, Congress Party leader Manmohan Singh is the next possible choice to lead the nation.

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