Rahul-Modi face-off in 2014 polls likely: Minister
Lucknow, Aug 20, 2012, DHNS:
Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma on Monday predicted a direct contest between Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
“There will be a direct fight between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi in 2014,” Verma said during an informal chat with reporters at Barabanki, about 30 km from here.
“I have been saying that Gandhi has all the capabilities of becoming prime minister though a decision in this regard would only be taken by the Congress high command,” he added.
The minister asserted that other parties are barely fringe players and they will only try to play spoilsport.
The Congress leader’s statement assumes significance in the wake of Samajwadi Party leaders’ claim that party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav could be the next prime minister as neither the BJP nor the Congress are likely to win enough number of seats to form the next government and that the third front had a real chance of garnering the required numbers.
Gandhi himself had recently hinted that he was ready for a bigger role though he did not elaborate whether it would be in the government or party. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also said on a number of occasions that he will welcome if Gandhi joins the Cabinet.
