JD(S) is committed to support Rahul for PM post: HDK

Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday said that his party is committed to supporting Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and also said that PM Narendra Modi is only a "paper tiger."

"Myself, our party, including president Deve Gowda, want to support Rahul ji as the prime ministerial candidate. This is our commitment," he told NDTV.

While attending the 'Grand Alliance's' rally in Kolkata on Monday, Kumaraswamy had said that Mamata Banerjee "is simplest of the simple and a very good administrator. I believe that Mamata ji has all the capabilities of leading the country."

Clarifying his statement, CM said that it was taken out of the context.

"Some of my media friends asked who will be the leader (for Lok Sabha elections). Then I told... (them that) in regional parties, several efficient leaders are there... Why can't even Mamata (become the PM)," but JD(S) is committed to supporting Rahul, he said.

Kumaraswamy said that Rahul has become a matured politician and he is confident enough to take on Modi in the general elections.

"Modi is only a paper tiger according to me. He speaks very well. But what is the achievement in the last four-and-half year?" he asked.

DMK president M K Stalin was the first regional party leader to propose Rahul Gandhi as the leader of the opposition alliance and for the PM post.

Recalling his late father Karunanidhi’s statements asking late Indira Gandhi to provide a “stable leadership” in 1980 and exhorting Sonia Gandhi to lead the country in 2004 that spawned the UPA, Stalin proposed the candidature of Rahul Gandhi for 2019 polls in December 2018.