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Congress dilemma : To project Rahul Gandhi as prime ministerial candidate or not |
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With the Lok Sabha elections approaching fast, the dilemma of the Congress on who to project as the party’s prime ministerial candidate is growing. When Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, a year back, had sought to project Rahul Gandhi as fit for the Prime Minister’s job, the party did not take his remarks kindly: he was actually snubbed for perceived sycophancy. But now External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is well known for not speaking out of turn and weighing his words thoroughly, has created a flutter in party circles by saying: “The day is not far when Rahul Gandhi will be Indian Prime Minister.”
This time also, the Congress has tried to downplay Pranab Mukherjee’s remarks, but the reaction is muted. Party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said that while Rahul Gandhi is “eminently capable” of becoming the Prime Minister, the timing is entirely his choice. Endorsing Pranab Mukherjee’s observation, Ahmed said he had not specified when Rahul Gandhi’s elevation will occur, after the coming Lok Sabha polls or the elections to be held thereafter.
Reflecting the ambiguity in the Congress stand on the issue, the party spokesperson said that the Congress stands by what Sonia Gandhi had said some time back that there is no vacancy for the Prime Minister’s post. The party chief had remarked in August last year that she was confident that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will unfurl the National Flag from the Red Fort this year also.
It is apparent that the Congress would like to benefit by projecting a young image, of a party receptive to the aspirations of young people, who constitute a large chunk of the voters, which is likely to be achieved, if Rahul Gandhi is named as the party’s prime ministerial candidate. At the same time, the party would not like to be accused of stabbing Dr. Manmohan Singh in the back when the country is facing a tense standoff with Pakistan because of that country’s support, overt and covert, for terrorist outfits operating in India. The economist Prime Minister is also credited with carrying through the Indo-US civil nuclear deal despite opposition from the Left parties as well as the BJP. After four and a half years in office as Prime Minister, nobody can ignore the political skills he has displayed.
There is also the realization that the complexion of the new Lok Sabha, after the elections likely to be held in April-May, is not going to be much different from that of the present house. The Congress may need the support of not only the present and prospective UPA partners, but also perhaps parties now in the opposition such as those belonging to the Left. In such a situation, the Congress may find it easier to attract allies if it has a young person at the head. The possibilities of Left parties supporting another ruling coalition headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh are practically zero, though nothing can be ruled out in politics. Hard political considerations may make it imperative for the Congress to project Rahul Gandhi as its next hope.
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