In the midst of sign of growing differences between the two power centres in UPA, the Congress on Monday assured Manmohan Singh he will continue to be Prime Minister till completion of his terms. The assurance followed reports that a section of the Congress leaders close to 10 Janpath wanted a premature end to Manmohan Singh’s second innings.
The clarification that there was no rift between Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh — the second such clarification within 24 hours by the Congress — has met with a stony silence from the Prime Minister’s camp. The Prime Minister is understood to be unhappy over the way he was arm-twisted by the Congress president to sack two of his handpicked Ministers — Ashwani Kumar and PK Bansal.
However, Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi termed as “malicious” media reports about differences between the two top leaders especially over the removal of Kumar and Bansal and a section of the party considering Singh as a liability and wanting him to be replaced.
Dismissing the possibility of early removal of the Prime Minister, Dwivedi said, “There is no doubt that Manmohan Singh will remain Prime Minister till 2014. What you are referring to as reports are not news reports but rumours and a malicious campaign, which we not only refute but also condemn.”
He said that no new decision has been taken about this issue in any other manner. The party has repeated its position more than once. We had said it before 2009 lok Sabha elections that Manmohan Singh will be our Prime Minister.
On issue of relationship between the Prime Minister and party president Sonia Gandhi, he said, “There cannot be a better relationship between any party president and the Prime Minister than the one which exists between the two.”
But then, even while giving the PM time till 2014, the party remains non-committal on the issue of Singh leading the party to polls. Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said that the troika of Sonia, the PM and a “young blood which will reinvigorate and energise the party” will lead the party in 2014 elections. This is significant as already there is a strong demand from a section of party to declare Rahul as PM candidate. However, though Rahul is the head of the Congress Campaign Committee the party said that his role will be decided later.