"I was shocked, very upset and crestfallen. I could not believe Soniaji had said no to the prime minister's post," said Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav, trying to come to terms with the reality.

"All along we have been demanding that Congress president Sonia Gandhi should head the secular government. But when I came to know that she has declined, I was very upset," he told PTI in Delhi.

Gandhi drove to Yadav's residence on Wednesday morning to meet the RJD leader.

Also Read Laloo supports Gandhi's decision Sonia chooses Manmohan Singh for PM

After a 20-minute meeting, Laloo, with Gandhi standing by his side, told reporters that the Congress president had shown 'magnanimity' by declining the top post.

"It is her greatness. Now she is personally meeting the leaders of each and every ally to convey her decision," he said.

Yadav handed over to Gandhi the RJD's letter of support to a Congress-led secular government. He, however, refused to reveal whether the RJD would join the government. "Let us see. That is not an issue (right now)," he said.

Earlier, senior Congress leader R K Dhawan was closeted with the RJD chief for nearly one hour before Gandhi came to his 25, Tughlaq Road residence.

Also Read Laloo supports Gandhi's decision Sonia chooses Manmohan Singh for PM