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Sonia 'not deterred' by Prasada's candidature: PTI

''Not at all,'' she shot back, when asked by reporters if she was deterred by the contest from Prasada, who is the first to take on a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family for the top party post.

She was speaking to reporters during a brief stopover at Bangalore airport en route to Lakshadweep.

''Nothing in particular,'' she said to a query as to what she felt about Prasada's presence.

On the impact of Prasada's contest on inner party democracy in the Congress, she said, ''The whole effort is to ensure intra-party democracy. That is precisely why we have set up the Central Election Committee and authorities in each state to ensure transparency and democracy within the party for these elections.''

On the performance of Congress chief ministers, Sonia Gandhi said she was satisfied with it, particularly when compared to the performance of counterparts in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states.

She left for Lakshadweep in a chartered aircraft accompanied by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna held a brief discussion with her at the airport.

Singh said there was ''not even the slightest threat'' to her leadership from Prasada.

Singh dismissed as 'non-issues' points raised by Prasada regarding the organisation and the poll process, saying, ''He has forgotten how he became the vice-president the last time. The elections (then) were worse than this time.''

On Prasada's charge about a coterie in the party, he said, ''Every power centre has a coterie. There are people who advise whom they represent.''

On whether Prasada has broken a tradition by taking on her, Singh said there was a contest the last time too, when Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot were in the fray.

He dismissed a question about 'an intimidating atmosphere' in the party for Prasada, saying, ''Prasada filed his papers. It is fair.''

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