JOIN USRahul ready to be PM if party MPs choose after polls
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi appeared to have experienced a change of heart while on his two-day visit to his Lok Sabha constituency of Amethi, during which he signalled that he would accept the post of prime minister if his party won the general election and the newly elected MPs selected him as their leader.
Rahul, who was both cheered and showed black flags during his visit, appeared very forthcoming and also interacted with the local media — a rarity with him.
“There is no tradition in the Congress to declare a prime ministerial nominee... Manmohan Singh, too, was selected by the elected members of the Congress,” said Rahul while speaking to reporters at the Munshiganj guest house.
He said declaring a prime ministerial candidate in advance could not be called “democratic”. “If my party wins and the elected MPs select me, I will consider it (becoming prime minister),” he added.
Rahul also said that in UP, tickets were distributed by Mayawati in the Bahujan Samaj Party and by one family in the Samajwadi Party. In reply to a question, Rahul denied that in the Congress all decisions were taken by 10 Janpath.
According to local Congress leaders, Rahul appeared to be a changed person. “Rahul freely mingled with the electorate and attentively listened to issues raised by the people,” said a local leader.
“Amethi is my home. I and my family have been associated with Amethi for many years. We have emotional bonds, which are very deep,” said Rahul at a function at Gauriganj.
“People come and go. I am here to stay,” he said, apparently taking a jibe at his challenger from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Kumar Vishwas. He also assured that he would visit the area again shortly.
Vishwas had already been to Amethi to launch his election campaign. The AAP leader has also challenged Rahul to a public debate and termed the latter's visit as “political picnic”.