Ready to be PM in 2019, says Rahul
BENGALURU: Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that he is ready to be India’s prime minister if the Congress emerges as the largest party in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, acknowledging for the first time that he would be willing to take the country’s top job at a time when several Opposition parties are trying to cobble together a federal front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
At a town hall with the city’s prominent citizens, when Gandhi was asked if he would become the PM, he replied: “Well it depends... it depends on how well the Congress does. If the Congress is the biggest party, yes.” Gandhi also emphasised he was “pretty convinced” Narendra Modi would not return to power in 2019. “Mr. Modi is not going to be prime minister. I can see it in his face. He knows it,” he said.
During the 10-year rule of the United Progressive Alliance government, Gandhi had repeatedly rejected offers to join the Cabiassumes net. The newly appointed Congress president’s statement, in the middle of the election campaign in Karnataka, is expected to boost the party cadre and escalate a personality clash with prime minister Modi. The state will vote on May 12, and results will be announced on May 15.
Gandhi’s comment sends a message that the Congress sees itself as a front-runner to lead a coalition government to keep the BJP out of power. The comment greater significance after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, seen one of the key architects of a proposed federal front, had said last week that the Cong should be prepared to play a supportive role in an anti-bjp formation, a statement that perhaps hinted at her own prime ministerial aspirations.
Trinamool Congress spokespersons in Delhi and Kolkata declined to comment on Rahul’s statement on Tuesday. But Nawab Malik, spokesperson of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) -- one of the more consistent partners of the Congress and also in the forefront of the federal front negotiations -- said that “nobody can oppose Rahul Gandhi if people gave him mandate”.
In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesperson and former minister Rajendra Chaudhary said: “It is his statement. What can we say about it. It may happen or might not. Too early to say anything.” The SP, led by Akhilesh Yadav, is taking on the BJP in the state along with once bitter rival, the BSP led by Mayawati.
›
Modi ji is proud he can make speeches well... If speeches could fill the country’s stomach, I wish he gave more speeches SONIA GANDHI, UPA chairperson
›
Congress believes in divide and rule... divide on the basis of caste and religion... make brother fight brother NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister