This Article is From Jan 14, 2014

Rahul Gandhi's comment laughable, Congress can't look beyond the Gandhis: BJP

Rahul Gandhi's comment laughable, Congress can't look beyond the Gandhis: BJP
New Delhi: The BJP today poked fun at Rahul Gandhi's statement indicating his willingness to shoulder any responsibility conferred upon him by his party, arguing that the Congress vice-president was being designated the prime ministerial candidate only because of his pedigree. (Rahul Gandhi statement suggests willingness to accept PM nomination)

"Mr Gandhi's comment is laughable. He is going to be declared his party's prime ministerial candidate because he belongs to a certain family, and his party can't look beyond,'' BJP's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

He contrasted the Congress' succession plan with that of the BJP. "It is only in the BJP that a person of a humble background  can rise up the ranks and be named as the party's prime ministerial candidate,'' Mr Prasad said, alluding to Narendra Modi's background as a tea-seller who had evolved into a top-ranking leader of his party.

Mr Gandhi, in an interview to a Hindi daily, had dropped hints to suggest that he was ready to spearhead the Congress' campaign in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. The Congress is holding a huge meeting in the capital later this week amid speculation that Mr Gandhi, 43, will be announced as Mr Modi's challenger in the general elections.

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