SAD ridicules PM's baton-passing remarks

Shiromani Akali Dal, a constituent of NDA, today ridiculed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's hope of passing over the baton of premiership to a UPA candidate after elections, saying the question of either him or anybody from COngress becoming PM does not exist.

SAD leader Naresh Gujral said Congress should consider itself lucky if it wins even 100 seats.

"There is no way this country will elect a Congress PM for a third time. We all know how Congress is sinking. We have seen what happened in Delhi (polls). If it touches even 100 seats, it would be extremely lucky," he said.

JD(U) President Sharad Yadav was also dismissive of Singh's press conference, saying "it does not matter what he says" and the country has been pushed backward during his tenure.

"In a way, he does not convince me. Nothing happens with what he says. People do not feel it. People can see your intentions. What happened in his rule has pushed this country much backward," Yadav said in his criticism.

Once seen as a potential Congress ally, JD(U) has drifted apart from the party, more so after it appeared that Congress could tie up with Lalu Yadav-led RJD.