SP says no to Manmohan as UPA PM candidate

Samajwadi Party (SP) today refused to endorse Manmohan Singh as UPA's prime ministerial candidate, saying such a decision would be taken by the alliance partners after the election.

"We do not have any differences over candidature of Manmohan Singh. But how can we take guarantee. UPA leaders will decide who should be the Prime Minister," SP leader Amar Singh said after participating in a road show in Chandni Chowk here.

The SP General Secretary also took a dig at the Prime Minister for his stand on Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi.

Asked whether Manmohan Singh will remain Prime Minister, the SP leader cryptically replied "I am in doubt...He has developed some affection for Quattrocchi."

PM had said the Quattrocchi case has been an "embarrassment" for the Indian government as it had failed to get him extradited from Malaysia and Argentina where courts have said "we don't have a strong case" against him.

In an apparent attack on the Congress, the SP leader said the whole world knew who was in power in Delhi when the Babri Masjid was demolished.

"The whole world knows who was in power in Delhi, when the (Babri) mosque was demolished."

Singh said SP never invited Kalyan Singh to join hands with the party and the former Chief Minister came on his own to ensure defeat of BJP in Uttar Pradesh.

SP has fielded Suhail Ahmed Khan in the Chandni Chowk seat from where Congress heavy-weight Kapil Sibal is seeking re-election for the second term.

The SP leader also said that party chief Mulayam Singh is not in the race for prime ministership.