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Vajpayee should quit, says Congress

The Congress today demanded the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying it had become imperative since the 13-month-old BJP-led government has been reduced to a minority.

Official party spokesman Arjun Singh told reporters after a high-level meeting at the residence of party president Sonia Gandhi that since the government has been reduced to a minority following withdrawal of support by the AIADMK, it had no moral right to continue in office any further.

He said the four-member Indian National Lok Dal led by Om Prakash Chautala had already withdrawn its support to the government.

The meeting of senior party leaders was called by Gandhi to discuss the fallout of the withdrawal of support by the 18-member AIADMK. Those who attended the meeting included Arjun Singh, Sharad Pawar, Dr Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, P Shiv Shankar and Prof P J Kurien.

Kerala Congress-M leader P C Thomas, MP, called on Gandhi before the meeting and offered his party's support in the formation of an alternative government. Thomas is also leader of an eight-member group of smaller parties in the Lok Sabha.

Later, Thomas said Gandhi appeared to be getting ready for giving shape to an alternative government.

UNI

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