As is her trademark, Sonia kept the CPP meeting short, a mere 20 business-like minutes, and several MPs were caught napping as they sauntered in around 9.50 a.m., by which time the show was over. As expected, the BJP came in for sharp criticism, but, the Congress will stay on its course of being a constructive Opposition party. ``The current political and economic situation in the country countinues to cause us extreme worry.

``We are governed by an unstable coalition in which policy-making is at a premium and even minimum consensus on national issues doesn't exist. There are deep divisions within the BJP itself, which makes it impossible for the ruling coalition to deliver effective governance. People's expectations are for a government that governs, and for anadministration that administers. There has been no evidence of this in the last eight months. It is immature and irresponsible for the government to blame others for its own shortcomings,'' Sonia said.

But, the Congress was prepared to discharge its constitutional obligations and as and when the situation required, the party will continue to offer the government constructive cooperation on issues of vital interest to the nation.

Then came the caution. ``It is an encouraging sign that our traditional support base among the poor, Dalits, Adivasis and the minorities is returning to our fold. The principle lesson of the recent elections is how a national party which won office in March has lost the confidence of the electorate in a matter of just months. We would do well to remember this as we chart our future course,'' she said.

Later, Congress spokespersons said the party was ready to face midterm polls if the situation so demanded. ``We are not forcing elections but if elections are declared no partycan run away from it. We will not destabilise the government but if it falls on its own weight, we will fulfil our constitutional responsibility,'' Shivraj Patil, head of the Congress media department, said.

Answering another question, Patil said there was no question of going to polls with the BJP-led coalition as a caretaker government. In the event of a crisis, constitutional authorities would explore the possibility of forming a government with the Opposition, Patil added.