US Envoy expected Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister

NEW DELHI: The US anticipated Congress to choose Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister in the event of a “better than expected” performance in the last Lok Sabha polls. Congress had fared way above its expectation, bagging 206 seats.

In a cable sent to the US State Department, when Manmohan Singh was admitted for a ‘re-do’ bypass surgery in early 2009, Ambassador Timothy Roemer said that Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee or Defence Minister AK Antony were “obvious candidates should Manmohan Singh not be up for the job”.

According to him, Congress would opt for Rahul in the event of the party improving upon its tally in the Lok Sabha.

The cable, sent on the eve of Singh’s surgery for removing blockages in his arteries, noted that Mukherjee had already assumed responsibilities of the prime minister and that he would remain the acting PM “until such time as Manmohan Singh is well enough to resume his duties.”