UPA in final year of tenure; Sonia positive on UPA's continuance

United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday heaped fulsome praise on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and expressed confidence over the alliance getting a fresh mandate in the next elections, a statement that is seen as scotching any speculation on the leadership issue.

New Delhi: United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday heaped fulsome praise on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and expressed confidence over the alliance getting a fresh mandate in the next elections, a statement that is seen as scotching any speculation on the leadership issue.

Delivering her speech at fourth anniversary celebrations of the UPA coalition in the Capital, Sonia said, "The Prime Minister's nature is such that he wants that instead of him his deeds should speak. His style of functioning is such that it takes time to understand, but time tells how effective is his leadership."

A galaxy of UPA leaders was present for the celebrations and later Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh as also Left leaders including Sitaram Yechury and A B Bardhan joined the dinner hosted by the Prime Minister at his Race Course residence.

Sonia also hailed the constituents of the ruling alliance saying that they worked for the collective good and not their own interests and said they would work as a team to seek a renewed mandate from the people.

The Prime Minister told the nation that control of inflation has been a "priority concern" for his government as he said "we must tighten our belts, manage our resources and finances more prudently, and work together to steer the ship of this great country through turbulent waters".

The presence of Amar Singh at the dinner was significant as it showed the warming up of ties between Congress and SP with elections just a year away.

However, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Member's of Parliament who were also invited were not present. There have been strains of late between Mayawati-led party and the Congress.(PTI)

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