Nagaland Chief Minister and North-Eastern Congress Co-ordination Committee chairman S C Jamir said he was surprised that former Lok Sabha Speaker Sangma, who is from this region, objected to Sonia Gandhi's projection as prime ministerial candidate because of her origins. Speaking over telephone from Kohima, Jamir said the three leaders should not have made an issue of Sonia's origins.

Jamir expressed surprise that Sangma joined Pawar and Anwar. He said that, during the NECCC meeting on May 11, Sangma did not discuss the issue with any of the Northeast's Congress leaders. Jamir said Sonia's origin should not stand in the way of her becoming Prime Minister if the Congress was able to form the government after the elections. He said under her leadership, the Congress hadgrown stronger, and the rank and file had become enthused. He said the NECCC would stand by her.

After contacting some Congress leaders of the region, Jamir decided to stand by whatever decision the Congress Working Committee takes. He however said the CWC should deliberate on the issue before coming to a decision. On the likelihood of disciplinary action being taken by the CWC against the three leaders, Jamir said things might not come to such a pass.

In Sangma's state, Meghalaya, there appears to be confusion among the party rank and file. A Congress minister said he was confused about Sangma's stand as he was one of the party leaders who had proposed Sonia's name as party president and, according to AICC convention, the party president becomes prime minister when the party comes to power.

Though Sangma's stand on Sonia's origin has generated a lot of discussion in Congress circles, Meghalaya PCC president and Rajya Sabha MP O L Nongtdu said the State unit would wait for the CWC decision. He said onlyafter that would he decide if there was a need to convene a party meeting.

Nongtdu said he would abide by the decision of the majority of the CWC members. He said Sangma had not discussed the issue of Sonia's origin with any of the state leaders and hoped it was his personal opinion.

The Meghalaya PCC has welcomed the open letter. Deputy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader D D Lapang, however, said the MPCC was not divided and pledged support to Sonia.

Lapang said Sangma, Pawar and Anwar had not asked partymen to oppose her. They had only sought an amMeghalaya Minister of Information and Public Relations Chamberline Marak, who is a senior Congress leader hailing from the Garo hills, said Sonia's origin should have been discussed in a proper forum like the AICC or CWC before it was leaked to the media. Once it was splashed in newspapers, he felt, it will have sent a wrong signal.