Rahul is No 1 candidate for PM: Kumaraswamy

Congress is the major partner in the opposition. So naturally, according to me, Rahulji is the number one contender for the PM’S post. HD KUMARASWAMY, K’taka CM

NEWDELHI: Karnataka chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy said Rahul Gandhi is the number one contender for the Prime Minister’s post in 2019 , and that the JD(S) would stand by the Congress president in the first unequivocal statement of support from a party that hasn’t always seemed comfortable with its larger alliance partner in the state.

Kumaraswamy added that the Opposition must come together and project a common leader to fight the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Still, while endorsing Gandhi’s candidature, Kumaraswamy had a word of caution for his own predecessor as Karnataka CM, Congress leader Siddaramaiah, advising him to share his opinions in private with the CM, rather than through the media.

His comments, in an interview to the Hindustan Times, come at a time when the JD(S) is reported to be having differences with the Congress in Karnataka, and other regional leaders are positioning themselves for the primary slot in an opposition front to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

CONTINUED ON P 8 ››FULL INTERVIEW,P8