Congress president Sonia Gandhi's decision to not become prime minister will have a demoralising effect on the party, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said in New Delhi on Wednesday.

"We are heartbroken. We are demoralised," Dikshit, considered a confidante of Gandhi, said. "We are there because of her. She is our inspiration.

"It is due to her inspiring leadership that the party has performed so well in the elections. It is shocking to find suddenly that she is not there to lead the country."