Manmohan's leadership non-negotiable for Left support: Cong

Congress on Tuesday said the leadership of prime minister Manmohan Singh was not negotiable after Lok Sabha elections in the event of the Left making its support conditional (removal of Singh).

"Congress does not believe in negotiating leadership," party spokesman Anand Sharma said to a query whether Congerss would reconsider the name of Singh for the top job after the elections if the Left insisted on it in return for its support.
 
Sharma said government-formation was a game of numbers and "we are making it clear to our partners that they must not delude themselves on this. No secular government is possible without Indian National Congress".