Party my focus, not PM’s post: Rahul
6 March 2013 6:41 AM IST
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday side-stepped queries on being the party’s prime ministerial candidate. ‘The Prime Minister’s post is not my priority. I believe in long-term politics,’ he said.
Gandhi, who is the second-in-command in the party and front-runner for the PM’s post, told the media that there was a need to end ‘high command culture’ in Congress. He said the high command culture started in the 70s when ‘my grandmother was under severe assault...I knew her and if I would have been in her place, I would have also done likewise.’
Party spokesperson Rashid Alvi soon after said as far as party workers are concerned, they want to see him as prime minister. ‘Rahulji doesn’t want to become prime minister or a minister and that is his thinking. But as far as workers of Congress Party are concerned, they want him and I am sure one day he will become the Prime Minister of this country.’
Rahul had earlier told party MPs in Parliament House that ‘asking me whether you want to be Prime Minister is a wrong question.’ Alvi said Rahul’s statement shows he is not after posts. Alvi also referred to Rahul as ‘the high command’ of the Congress and said, ‘Rahul Gandhi is not after any post and he has proved it. Mrs Sonia Gandhi too has proved it and that is the difference between other political parties and the Congress Party.’ He said that in other political parties people are fighting to become the prime minister of the country while Congress leadership has already sacrificed the post.
Alvi, however, refrained from speaking much on Rahul’s views on marriage saying it is a ‘personal’ decision of an individual. The 42-year-old leader Gandhi scion had said: ‘If I get married and have children, I will be status quoist and will like my children to take my place.’
Gandhi, who is the second-in-command in the party and front-runner for the PM’s post, told the media that there was a need to end ‘high command culture’ in Congress. He said the high command culture started in the 70s when ‘my grandmother was under severe assault...I knew her and if I would have been in her place, I would have also done likewise.’
Party spokesperson Rashid Alvi soon after said as far as party workers are concerned, they want to see him as prime minister. ‘Rahulji doesn’t want to become prime minister or a minister and that is his thinking. But as far as workers of Congress Party are concerned, they want him and I am sure one day he will become the Prime Minister of this country.’
Rahul had earlier told party MPs in Parliament House that ‘asking me whether you want to be Prime Minister is a wrong question.’ Alvi said Rahul’s statement shows he is not after posts. Alvi also referred to Rahul as ‘the high command’ of the Congress and said, ‘Rahul Gandhi is not after any post and he has proved it. Mrs Sonia Gandhi too has proved it and that is the difference between other political parties and the Congress Party.’ He said that in other political parties people are fighting to become the prime minister of the country while Congress leadership has already sacrificed the post.
Alvi, however, refrained from speaking much on Rahul’s views on marriage saying it is a ‘personal’ decision of an individual. The 42-year-old leader Gandhi scion had said: ‘If I get married and have children, I will be status quoist and will like my children to take my place.’
Next Story
