New Delhi:
For months now general elections 2014 have been discussed as a Rahul Gandhi vs
Narendra Modi personality clash, without either leader's party confirming that he will be the presumptive prime minister. On Sunday, strong hints emerged from both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP that such a battle is indeed on the cards.
From Prime Minister Mannmohan Singh came the most categorical endorsement yet of Mr Gandhi as his successor. "Rahul Gandhi would be ideal for the Prime Minister's position after the 2014 elections. I would be very happy to work for the Congress party under the leadership of Mr Gandhi," Dr Singh told journalists aboard his special aircraft, virtually seeming to rule out a third term as PM for himself if the Congress is returned to power in next year's general elections. (
Read: Full transcript of PM's briefing)
Amid a constant clamour in the party that Mr Gandhi be officially named the candidate for PM, senior leaders have very often said that the 43-year-old Congress number 2 is the party's best bet for the top position. But Mr Gandhi himself has seemed reluctant and Dr Singh had so not offered a direct answer whenever he was asked whether he will continue in the office for a third successive term.
On Sunday evening, sources said the BJP could name Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its candidate for PM by the 19th of this month. Mr Modi who, was in BJP-ruled Chhattisgrah today to campaign for Chief Minister Raman Singh, tweeted, "PM talks of happily working under Rahul Gandhi's leadership next year! Wasn't he doing the same all these years? Misleading the nation again?"
In his speech in Chhattisgarh, Mr Modi attacked both the PM and Mr Gandhi from a stage that had been designed to resemble Delhi's Red Fort, from where Prime Ministers address the nation on Independence Day. The symbolism was lost on none.
In neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, widely seen as Mr Modi's rival in the party for the title of the most efficient BJP chief minister, also slammed Dr Singh. "Prime Minister of a great country like India says that he is ready to work 'under' somebody. Does it not lower the dignity of the apex post?" Mr Chouhan tweeted.