Zee Media Bureau/Ritesh K Srivastava

New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who will host a farewell dinner for Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday, has asked the party leaders to defend the Prime Minister even if the party is routed in the Lok Sabha elections.

Sonia Gandhi has reportedly made these remarks in the backdrop of the post-poll surveys projecting worst ever performance by the Congress and best ever performance by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Congress president has hailed Dr Singh for sailing through the difficult times and hailed his "able stewardship".

"Singh`s experienced and seasoned stewardship, his personal integrity and ability to lead the country through difficult times is noteworthy and India is proud to have earned so many laurels and respect during the ten years", party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi later said.

Yesterday, which was the last day at work for Dr Singh, a standing ovation and emotional farewells greeted the Prime Minister as he prepared to demit office on Saturday, a day after the national election verdict.

A memento is also expected to be presented to Dr Singh signed by all members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and Union Ministers during the farewell dinner tonight.