04-01-2008, 03:51 PM
From DC
<b>Arjun: Make Rahul PM nominee</b>
New Delhi, March 31: The human resources development minister, Mr Arjun Singh wants AICC general secretary Mr Rahul Gandhi projected as a prime ministerial candidate at a time when the Congressâ ally, the NCP, has pleaded for Dr Manmohan Singh for the top post while the rest of the UPA constituents have yet to play their cards on this issue. Mr Singh, a senior party leader known for his loyalty to the Gandhi-Nehru family, praised the young Gandhi, saying Rahulâs experiences in various states would benefit the party. When asked if the party was grooming Mr Gandhi as the next prime ministerial candidate, Mr Singh retorted, "Why not?"
Although the Congress has been evasive on straight queries about who would be its candidate for Prime Minister in the next Lok Sabha polls and whether Dr Manmohan Singh would be projected for the top post, its allies privately oppose any move to "impose" a nominee for PMâs post. "The PM candidate would be elected, and not selected," a leader of a UPA ally other than the NCP said.
According to a PTI report from Bhopal, Mr Arjun Singh defended Mr Gandhiâs
"Discovery of India" campaign, saying his experiences in various states would benefit the party. "Rahul has priority in launching the Discovery of India campaign." "He is trying to learn. His experiences in various states would benefit the party," Mr Singh told reporters when asked on Sunday why Mr Gandhi initiated such a campaign. Mr Singh is perhaps the first Union minister to publicly say he wants Mr Gandhi groomed for the post.
The Congress is cautious about taking a stand on this issue because it first has to decide whether it wants to face the next general elections under the banner of the UPA and, if so, it will have to evolve a consensus on Mr Gandhi among the allies.
Any division among them would send out the wrong message to the people ahead of the polls. If UPA insiders are to be believed, the Congress is in no position to come to power on its own. It will have to be a partner of a front against the BJP-led NDA. But a section of the Congress prefers a post-poll alliance because they feel this could help revive the party under Mr Gandhiâs leadership.
<b>Arjun: Make Rahul PM nominee</b>
New Delhi, March 31: The human resources development minister, Mr Arjun Singh wants AICC general secretary Mr Rahul Gandhi projected as a prime ministerial candidate at a time when the Congressâ ally, the NCP, has pleaded for Dr Manmohan Singh for the top post while the rest of the UPA constituents have yet to play their cards on this issue. Mr Singh, a senior party leader known for his loyalty to the Gandhi-Nehru family, praised the young Gandhi, saying Rahulâs experiences in various states would benefit the party. When asked if the party was grooming Mr Gandhi as the next prime ministerial candidate, Mr Singh retorted, "Why not?"
Although the Congress has been evasive on straight queries about who would be its candidate for Prime Minister in the next Lok Sabha polls and whether Dr Manmohan Singh would be projected for the top post, its allies privately oppose any move to "impose" a nominee for PMâs post. "The PM candidate would be elected, and not selected," a leader of a UPA ally other than the NCP said.
According to a PTI report from Bhopal, Mr Arjun Singh defended Mr Gandhiâs
"Discovery of India" campaign, saying his experiences in various states would benefit the party. "Rahul has priority in launching the Discovery of India campaign." "He is trying to learn. His experiences in various states would benefit the party," Mr Singh told reporters when asked on Sunday why Mr Gandhi initiated such a campaign. Mr Singh is perhaps the first Union minister to publicly say he wants Mr Gandhi groomed for the post.
The Congress is cautious about taking a stand on this issue because it first has to decide whether it wants to face the next general elections under the banner of the UPA and, if so, it will have to evolve a consensus on Mr Gandhi among the allies.
Any division among them would send out the wrong message to the people ahead of the polls. If UPA insiders are to be believed, the Congress is in no position to come to power on its own. It will have to be a partner of a front against the BJP-led NDA. But a section of the Congress prefers a post-poll alliance because they feel this could help revive the party under Mr Gandhiâs leadership.