Rahul Gandhi could be PM in 2014: Beni Prasad

JAUNPUR: In remarks that could further embarrass Congress, Union minister Beni Prasad Verma on Friday made a reference to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's age and said that Rahul Gandhi would be the Prime Minister in 2014.

"Prime minister Manmohan Singh is 80 years old.. in 2014 he would be 82...there is a limit and age to work..under these circumstances Rahulji would be made the Prime Minister," Verma said in Madiyahon area here.

The steel minister, who was here to campaign for the party's nominees, also sought support for the Gandhi scion. On February 8, Verma had termed party MP from Barabanki, P L Punia, an outsider, bringing factionalism in the party to the fore.

"Punia has come from Punjab... all the people here are our people and we are winning all the six seats," Verma had told reporters in Barabanki after exercising his franchise.