The Lok Janshakti Party, a part of the Congress-led alliance, on Tuesday said the coalition will be willing to go with an alternative candidate for prime ministership if the Congress is unable to persuade Sonia Gandhi to accept the office.

Also Read Sonia Gandhi refuses to become PM

Senior Congress leaders Natwar Singh and M L Fotedar called on the LJP chief, Ram Vilas Paswan, as speculation raged on Gandhi's reluctance to be the country's next prime minister.

"They informed me that Sonia Gandhi refused to head the government because she does not want any controversy over her name," Paswan said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has objected to Gandhi taking over as prime minister because of her foreign origins.

Paswan said Fotedar conveyed to him that Gandhi wants a secular government run as smoothly as possible.