Manmohan to remain PM: Congress

16 May 2009, PTI


NEW DELHI: Congress on Saturday made it clear that Manmohan Singh will lead a government led by the party as promised during the campaign, scotching speculation on its prime ministerial candidate.

Addressing the press at 10, Janpath in New Delhi, party president Sonia Gandhi said that Manmohan Singh remains the party’s choice for heading the next government. She said the verdict reflects the wisdom of the Indian voter, who “always make the right choice.”

PM Manmohan Singh said he would try to persuade Rahul Gandhi, scion of the Gandhi family, to join the cabinet after the ruling Congress-led coalition's win in a general election.

"It is my wish that he should be in the cabinet. But I will have to persuade him," Singh told reporters.

Earlier, AICC media department incharge Janardhan Dwivedi told reporters here when asked who will lead a Congress-led government at the Centre: "Manmohan Singh is our PM candidate and he will become Prime Minister.

On projection of Rahul Gandhi as a candidate for the prime minister's post, Dwivedi said. "the PM's chair is Rahul's future and he is the future leader of the party.

"It depends on Rahul when he will desire and when such a situation will arise. But as of now, Rahul has other priorities," he said.

He also gave full credit to the 39-year-old scion of Nehru-Gandhi family for the party's unexpectedly good performance in Uttar Pradesh.

"It is just the beginning", he said and predicted the end of communal and castist parties in the future.

With the Left parties suffering a setback in their bastion West Bengal, the Congress hoped that they "will introspect whom they will remain with" and play a "different" role.

Rahul has all 'qualities and capabilities' to be PM: Scindia

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia today said Rahul Gandhi should be the Prime Minister as he has all the "qualities and capabilities".

"I am not undermining anyone but I am saying that Rahul Gandhiji should be Prime minister. He has all the qualities and capabilities...he has actually shown that in this election...," he said.

When asked whether Manmohan Singh should resign and Rahul become PM, he said: "I never said that. I said that it is not the aspirations of the Congress party alone, aspirations not only of the youth of the country but all people of the country that he should get to the helm."

He said his maturity, his farsightedness and his political astuteness that he has shown in the last five years was exemplary. "That is the kind of leadership that this country was searching for."

Making it clear that it was his personal opinion, Scindia said: "Manmohan Singhji is the prime ministerial candidate of the Congress party and absolutely once again will be the prime minster of the country. You asked for my personal opinion and I gave you my personal opinion."