India's Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi declined to take over the premier position to the surprise of her fellow partians. It was reported earlier that some party leaders intended to resign to pressure her to become the first non-Indian born premier.

Sources say that Sonia Gandhi, born in northern Italy, has no intention to become the premier of the 2nd populous country on earth. Some Indians quuestion her nationality and capability to tackle the economic and political difficulties facing India today. Some expect that Singh, former Minister of Finance and economist educated at Oxford and Cambridge, might take over the premier position should Sonia Gandhi bow out.