Cong High Command dismisses talk of Rahul as PM candidate

NEW DELHI: Congress high command today moved swiftly to scotch speculation that Rahul Gandhi may be the party's Prime Ministerial candidate and said it was against creation of any climate of uncertainty about incumbent Manmohan Singh. The AICC nipped in the bud the speculation, maintaining that the Congress' concern was for the stability of the office of the Prime Minister.

A day after senior leader Arjun Singh batted for Rahul to be projected as the Prime Ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha polls and it was endorsed by another senior Congressman Pranab Mukherjee today, the signal sent by the high command was that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was on a firm footing.

A clear indication to this effect was given by AICC Media Department Chairman M Veerappa Moily, whose refrain was "We don't want any element of uncertainty about the office of the Prime Minister. "We zealously protect political stability, which is our main plank, and no one can point any finger," he said, suggesting that the party was behind Manmohan Singh as a rock.

The statement at the party briefing by spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan caused a flutter as she said: "Congress President Sonia Gandhi and General Secretary Rahul Gandhi have always kept away from an environment of sycophancy."

Hours after Natarajan's strong statement, Arjun Singh was at 10, Janpath, but dismissed suggestions that the visit had anything to do with his statement.

He insisted that there was no harm in projecting Rahul as the Prime Ministerial candidate.