Is Venkaiah in the race for Prime Minister?

Bhopal, Jan 10: Is Mr M Venkaiah Naidu in the race for prime ministership? This poser was made to Mr Naidu himself at a press conference here today and the Bharatiya Janata Party Vice-President attempted to parry it but indirectly gave a piece of his mind.

''The question of prime ministership will arise only during the next Lok Sabha election in 2009. We are ready to sit in the opposition for five years,'' he said.

Asked whether he was also in the race for premiership from among the BJP leaders, Mr Naidu said, ''I am in the party and touring the country. We are aloof from the president, dissident and resident culture.''

UNI