Rahul Gandhi clears stand on PM role, says ready to take charge

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New Delhi, Jan 14, 2014 (Zee News): Amid reports that Congress central leadership is likely to appoint Rahul Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 General Elections, the party vice president on Tuesday said that he is ready to take any responsibility if given and will do whatever the party wants him to do.

Speaking to a leading news daily, the Gandhi scion said, “I’m ready to take any responsibility if given.”

The young leader also expressed hope that Congress party will do well in the next General Elections and his party’s return to power will hold good for the nation.

“Congress is always underestimated, I am confident that it will do well in the next polls, “ he said. “It is in the interest of the country if Congress comes to power,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Rahul also categorically rubbished reports that Congress is fast losing its allies.

“It is untrue that my party is losing its allies, we have alliances in Maharashtra and J&K,” he said.

The Congress vice president also dismissed speculations of his sister Priyanka Vadra playing a major role in the next polls.

“I don’t think there’ll be any election-related role for Priyanka,” Rahul suggested.

Taking a jibe at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi said, “I don’t agree with most of the policies of the AAP.”

Targeting AAP again, Rahul Gandhi said, “We should take decisions that don’t just benefit in short term but long term."

Hitting out at the BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi, the Congress leader said, “India cannot be run on the ideas of one man alone.”

Rahul Gandhi apparently cleared his stand on the PM responsibility and other issues just days ahead of the AICC meeting, scheduled to be held on January 17, where he is most likely to be declared Congress’ PM candidate for 2014 General Elections.

During the AICC meeting, Congress is set to prepare a strategy for the Lok Sabha polls, triggering speculation that Rahul Gandhi may be appointed the party’s prime ministerial candidate there.

The announcement was made by party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi, which came close on the heels of the party’s drubbing in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi.

While BJP had named Narendra Modi its PM candidate in September, there has been criticism that Congress has been reticent about naming its nominee.

On the day the Assembly poll results were declared, party chief Sonia Gandhi said that the party would announce its prime ministerial candidate at an opportune time.

Dwivedi dismissed as "illogical" questions that the meet has been called to appoint Rahul Gandhi the PM candidate. He said that the agenda for the AICC meet is decided by the Congress Working Committee, which also finalises the draft resolutions which come up before the meet.

The AICC meeting has been due since the last meeting was held in Jaipur in January this year, along with the ’Chintan Shivir’ which saw the elevation of Rahul Gandhi as the party vice-president, he said.

Deliberations at AICC meetings are held on the prevailing political situation and on other important issues, he said.

The meet has been called at a time when Congress is facing an uphill task with the emergence of Modi as a force to reckon with and some allies of UPA sending warning signals, the latest being DMK making it clear that it will not have any alliance with Congress in the Lok Sabha polls.