Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday virtually declared Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi his successor, suggesting that the young Gandhi would lead UPA-3 if it came to power after the Lok Sabha election next year.
This clear indicator that Dr Singh is not eyeing a third term as PM comes at a time when the BJP is growing isolated on the issue of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s prime ministerial candidature and when a third alternative has yet to emerge.
The Janata Dal (U) has quit the NDA after realising that the BJP is going back to basics (Hindutva agenda) under Mr Modi’s leadership. This has sparked a debate on secularism across the country which could lead to polarisation of voters in the coming general election.
Dr Singh’s projection of Mr Rahul Gandhi can be seen as the answer to the BJP on who is the (UPA’s) PM candidate. Giving a clear hint that the Congress is open to allying with the secular parties, including the JD(U), the PM described Bihar CM Nitish Kumar as secular, saying that “in politics there are no permanent enemies or permanent friends”. Mr Modi cannot be a threat (to the Congress) as the people of India know what he stands for, Dr Singh added.
“I have always said, as far as I am concerned, I would be very happy to see Rahul step into my shoes. I always believe we will have a third go at the elections as the UPA and people will again repose their faith in us,” he told reporters after the swearing-in of eight ministers at Rashtrapati Bhavan. “Rahul Gandhi is a natural leader of the Congress. I hope he will lead the UPA. I always believed Rahul was fit enough and has the right qualities of a leader,” Dr Singh said while responding to a question on whether he would make way for Mr Gandhi if the UPA came back to power.
Asked whether Mr L.K. Advani had put a stumbling block in Mr Modi’s path, the PM said, “This is an internal matter of the BJP, I wouldn’t like to comment on that.” With the NDA shrinking, does it embolden the prospects of UPA-3 was another question. The PM replied: “I have always believed that we will have a third go at the elections and that we will come out victorious.”
Asked how he saw the elevation of Mr Modi in the BJP, he said, “The people of India have to draw their own conclusions — what Narendra Modi stands for and what his elevation means. I wouldn’t like to comment on it.” Asked whether now it was a direct Narendra Modi versus Rahul Gandhi contest, the PM said, “Rahul Gandhi is a national leader of the Congress party, and I hope that he will be a leader of the UPA alliance. I have always believed Rahul is fit enough to be a leader of the UPA, that is not a question of any speculation. I have always believed he has all the right qualities that a leader (should have).”
On whether he saw the JD(U) as a possible ally, he said, “In politics there are no permanent enemies or friends — the situation evolves.”
To a question on whether Mr Nitish Kumar was a secular leader, he said, “Well, he is a secular leader.” On the possibility of the Congress allying with the JD(U), he said, “I can’t speculate on that — what happens in the future, events will tell.”
“We need the support of all right-thinking people regardless of the political formation to which they may belong,” he said when asked whether the JD(U) would support the government in the current Lok Sabha.
On the federal front idea of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, he said, “I can’t see the federal front posing a real challenge to the UPA.” Dr Singh added: “When the chips are down, the UPA will give a good account.”
Meanwhile, the PM on Monday took the oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha after being re-elected from Assam for a fifth consecutive term. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other leaders were among those present on the occasion.
Dr Singh, who took the oath in the name of God, told reporters, “It is a great opportunity for me to re-dedicate myself to the service of the people of Assam.”