End of factionalism will help Congress: Sonia - National News Updates

With elections around the corner, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said on Wednesday that there will be no problem within the party if factionalism ended.

"If factionalism comes to an end, there is no problem at all," she said addressing party MPs in the last meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party of the 14th Lok Sabha,

Gandhi also said the party ran a coalition government successfully and asked the party MPs to spread the message of achievements of the government all across the country.

Congratulating the UPA government for completing its full term of five years, she said the government has fulfilled the promises which it made during the last polls.

"Having fulfilled the promises, the party will be back to power in the 15th Lok Sabha," she said.

Gandhi also praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his leadership besides complimenting External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

No chance of being PM: Rahul - National News Updates

Banaskantha: Congress General secretary Rahul Gandhi has said he has "no chance" of becoming the Prime Minister if the party returns to power in the coming Lok Sabha elections but added he "cannot say anything about distant future".

"No chance. Since Congress has decided on present Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as its prime ministerial candidate of the UPA, the question does not arise," he said, while interacting with tribals here on Sunday.

"As to whether I will be prime minister candidate in 2014, I cannot say anything about distant future," the 38-year-old replied when a youth in Sanali village of Danta taluka here asked him when he would become the prime minister. Gandhi ended his two-day whirlwind tour of Gujarat on Monday evening.

He started the second day of his tour by visiting Ambaji temple in North Gujarat early this morning. Then he went to Gandhinagar where he inspected an enrolment drive by youth Congress.

Azharuddin starts new innings, joins Congress - National News Updates

New Delhi: Former Indian cricket team skipper Mohammad Azharuddin formally joined the Congress on Thursday and is expected to contest the Lok Sabha elections.

Azharuddin addressed the press at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday evening and clarified that the party high command will decide from where he will contest elections.

He said he has always been a fan of the Congress and late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

"I am quite happy to be in front of a large gathering after a long time. I have been a fan on late Rajiv Gandhi. It is the only party that has made so many sacrifices," said Azharuddin.

"I want to work in the larger interest of the party. I am not the captain anymore so I can't decide on whether I will contest in polls. That is for party high command to decide," Azhar added.

Azhar will probably contest from one of the three constituencies falling in Hyderabad in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

He is expected to take on the Congress ally in Andhra Pradesh, the All India Majlis-e Ittihad al-Muslimin's (MIM) growing influence in the state and is likely to be projected as the party's new Muslim face.

Azharuddin was introduced to the press as the latest entrant to the Congress by senior party leader Veerappa Moily.

"Sonia Gandhi is very happy to have Azhar in the party. He has firm belief in the secular and forward looking policies of the party," said Moily.

Cong not beggar, wants dignified pact: Digvijay - National News Updates

New Delhi: After being on collision course last week, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress may be closer to clinching a deal to contest the Uttar Pradesh elections together. Both parties have come some distance since last week when they locked horns over the disproportionate assets case against SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, where the regional party accused the Congress of trying to settle political scores.

The Samajwadi Party might announce the seats which it will share with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. Indications of a possible alliance are strong, with the Congress saying it is open to what it calls a dignified alliance.

However, the war of words between Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh and Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh has not abated any.

Digvijay Singh said on Tuesday, "Congress is not that weak that we'll carry a begging bowl in front of anybody. If the alliance would be dignified we will go for it."

Meanwhile, Amar Singh has blamed Digvijay Singh for misguiding the Congress high command and causing a strain in the relations between the two parties ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

"Leaders like Digvijay Singh are misguiding the Congress. The statements emerging from the Congress party are very disheartening," Amar Singh said adding, "Digvijay Singh will be held responsible if ties between Congress and Samajwadi Party are strained further."

Amar Singh also said: "We helped the United Progressive Alliance Government when it was facing its worst crisis after the Left Front withdrew support. We came to the Congress' rescue. Instead of being grateful, the party leaders are issuing such statements."

Amar Singh said he had never said that the Congress party is a beggar but added that the Congress too should realise that even "Samajwadi Party is not a beggar".