New Delhi: The New Year may begin with a political big bang. All eyes are on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s press conference, a rare event at that, on January 3.
While the press meet is being held for the PM to highlight his decade-long achievements, sources say he may use the platform to opt out of prime ministerial race in 2014 general elections.
His last official press conference was in 2010.
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Sources say that he is ready to face a question on his PM candidature. If asked, he has the script ready and is likely to say that he would opt out, leaving the seat open to Rahul Gandhi who may be named as PM candidate of the Congress at the AICC meet on January 17.
Last time when he was asked the question on whether he is in the PM race, Singh had said he was not out of it. But with the recent debacle in the Assembly elections and the rise of BJP and the AAP, the Congress has decided to go aggressive and not leave a question mark over the PM candidate.
An indication of the Congress mood came when Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram made it clear that the time has come for the Congress to name its PM candidate.
“In my view, the party (Congress) should project a person as the leader of the party who will become Prime Minister if the party forms the government. That is my view, but it is for the party to decide,” PTI quoted Chidambaram as telling a television channel.
Just after the Assembly elections, Congress party president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had made it clear that the name of the Congress PM candidate would be announced soon. Significantly, she did not say that Singh would continue to be their candidate.
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But the Congress is in a dilemma on whether Rahul should be forced to inherit the mess left behind by UPA-II headed by Singh. With the popularity of the Congress and the UPA at an all-time low, Rahul will begin his innings with a big disadvantage.
If Rahul is indeed named in the January 17 meeting, the going will be tough and will have to fight issues like corruption and the era of indecisiveness left behind by Singh & Co.
Sources and media reports say that the Prime Minister had conveyed to Sonia that he wants to be relieved.
