Manmohan Singh will continue to lead us: Congress

NEW DELHI: Sensing that Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh's call to make Rahul Gandhi the prime minister would further deplete the political stock of Manmohan Singh and render him lamest of all possible ducks, the Congress on Monday ruled out the possibility of a leadership change at the top.

"Our Prime Minister is Manmohan Singh. Dr Singh has done an excellent job in leading the government over the last seven years… He will continue to lead us," Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said. The clarification from the Congress spokesperson, which clearly signaled that Digvijaya Singh's assertion was unauthorised, was aimed at refraining other Congress leaders from joining the "loyalty spectacle" that such statements usually create in the party.

Although the party leadership is worried over the tanking of the government's approval ratings in the recent months, there is acknowledgement that talks of leadership change will only strengthen the impression of a paralysis in the government. "We are currently confronted with a host of corruption charges. The talk of leadership change will be an indirect admission of our failure to steer governance," said a senior party leader on the condition of anonymity.

Cabinet Reshuffle

Sources in the party said Sonia Gandhi has already begun talks with the prime minister on devising ways to spruce up the image of the government. Gandhi, who had a two-hour-long meeting with Singh on Sunday evening, is keen on a radical overhaul in the government. Sources said the two leaders exchanged notes on Cabinet reshuffle.

Meanwhile, Digvijaya Singh on his part also clarified that he did not seek any leadership change. Singh said that his remarks on Gandhi's 41st birthday were misconstrued and that he had not said that the heir-apparent should take over immediately.

The Congress, which decoupled itself from Digvijaya Singh's assertion, however, maintained that Rahul Gandhi was 'prime minister material'. "I would like to point out that Rahul Gandhi has brought about a tremendous change in terms of democratisation of the party, reaching out to farmers, Dalits and other disadvantaged sections. He has emerged as a youth icon and future leader of the party and the country," Natarajan said. When asked about the timing of his takeover, Natarajan said: "On the question of the time for him to take over, it is something that Gandhi, the party high command and the people of India will decide."