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Wednesday, May 18, 2005

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National

Why should I want to be Prime Minister?

Anita Joshua

There is a Prime Minister. He is a man of integrity. He has a five-year term, says Sonia Gandhi

NEW DELHI: Exactly a year — almost to the hour — after she gave first indications of her reluctance to become Prime Minister, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said there was no question of her reconsidering the decision; at least not during the term of the 14th Lok Sabha.

"Why should I reconsider my decision,'' Ms. Gandhi said in response to a question on her "renunciation'' during an informal interaction with the media at the National Advisory Council headquarters here to mark the completion of one year of the United Progressive Alliance Government.

"The question does not arise. There is a Prime Minister. He is a man of integrity. He has a five-year term. Why should I want to be Prime Minister.''

Asked whether her "renunciation'' was permanent, she said: "The Government is for five years.'' And, asked whether she would stick to the decision not to become Prime Minister if the Congress secured a majority, Ms. Gandhi sidestepped the issue.

But for the issue of renunciation and questions pertaining to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, the Congress president was forthcoming. She responded to a host of queries despite their being repeated time and again as she wove around tables to interact with small groups of journalists. At ease, she was quick on the repartee and threw scribes off guard with counter-questions.

Dissidence

Asked about dissidence in the party, Ms. Gandhi shot back: "the Congress or the BJP?'' Pointing out that there was always a little bit of "khit-pitt (pow-wow) in any organisation, she said there was no major instance of dissident activity in the Congress "unlike the BJP.''

Would she intervene to end the stalemate in Bihar and take up the latest offer [on government formation] of Lok Jan Shakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan? Ms. Gandhi said: "Bihar is Bihar, let us leave it there.''

Jharkhand performance

While on the issue of electoral politics, she was up against a question on the Congress performance in Jharkhand.

Asked whether the party would take action against those who charted the party's flawed poll strategy in the State, she said: "Mistakes usually fall on the boss since it was I who took the final decision.''

For those who were witness to the high-tension drama at 10 Janpath on May 17, 2004, Tuesday's gathering across the road at 2 Motilal Nehru Place was a picture in contrast. There was none of the suspense that permeated the air 365 days ago as a relaxed and sure-footed Ms. Gandhi opened up to the Fourth Estate.

Kerala devlopments

In her first statement on the latest political developments in Kerala, Ms. Gandhi said the damage caused to the party with the exit of veteran Congressman K. Karunakaran was limited in comparison to the harm he had done from within.

To a question, she said: "I think there was a great deal of damage when he was inside. I think things will be better now.''

The State unit would now be able to hold organisational elections, rallies and other party activities. "Earlier, the State unit had to always get Mr. Karunakaran's assent to conduct any such activity. There is a feeling of ease in the State unit over the fact that it can now carry out its party programmes at the frontal organisation level.''

Referring to her meeting on Monday with Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, his predecessor A.K. Antony and Pradesh Congress Committee president Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, Ms. Gandhi said all concerned accepted the need for making a special effort to work hard and together as an Assembly election was approaching.

As for the ruling coalition's chances of staging a comeback in Kerala next year, she remained non-committal, confining herself to expressing confidence in the State leadership doing all that was necessary.

Positions for ``Gennext''

PTI reports

Ms. Sonia hinted at a ``minor'' reshuffle in the AICC set-up after organisational polls on May 31 giving her son Rahul Gandhi and other `Gennext' leaders responsibilities in the party.

``As far as the Congress is concerned, there is going to be minor rearrangements after the organisational polls. Rahul Gandhi and colleagues of his age can be considered for some responsibility in the party,'' Ms. Gandhi told reporters.

She made it clear that there would not be major changes but asserted that the younger generation would be given adequate positions and responsibilities.

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