Rahul Gandhi will become PM one day: Shashi Tharoor

BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister Shashi Tharoor today said he was optimistic about seeing the Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi becoming the prime minister one day.

"I certainly hope that one day he (Rahul) will," Tharoor told reporters here replying to a question on whether Gandhi would become Prime Minister as he appeared to be taking all major decisions for the party.

Rahul has shown 'acute sensitivity politically' by opposing the ordinance on convicted lawmakers. "He (Rahul Gandhi) is our (Congress) vice president and he is number two in the party besides being a very important leader," the former UN assistant secretary general said.

Asked whether he supported the manner in which Rahul opposed the ordinance, Tharoor said "I am not competent to talk about this. However, Rahul has used his position to oppose the ordinance as vice-president of the party. I supported him from the very beginning."

"Rahul Gandhi or any other leader (in Congress) does not have any intention to dilute the honour of the Prime Minister on the ordinance issue," Tharoor said adding that the Rahul had pointed out that the party was going on a wrong path by introducing the ordinance.

Rahul Gandhi had questioned the ordinance moved by the Centre on negating the Supreme Court verdict on lawmakers and termed it as "complete nonsense". The ordinance was withdrawn yesterday.