Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh used Rahul Gandhi`s 41st birthday on Sunday to stoke the clamour for the heir-apparent taking over as prime minister.

The AICC general secretary in charge of UP affairs argued that the young leader fulfilled the criteria of maturity of age and exposure to national politics for the top job.

"I think it is time that Rahul can become the prime minister," Singh was quoted as saying by news agencies, adding, "Rahul is now 40 and he has been working for the party for the last seven to eight years."

Singh said the scion of the Gandhi family had the right qualities, instincts and experience to take up the mantle of prime ministership now, though he added it was for Rahul to decide on the issue. The news agency also quoted Singh as wishing that Rahul should marry this year.

The revival of the demand, once a staple in the party till the first family ticked off senior leaders for "sycophancy", may turn into a trend among partymen if the sense of the government being besieged continues.

However, in contrast, party MPs from UP were restrained in their views on the sensitive issue. Jagdambika Pal said Rahul had taken up causes of every section of society and proved that he was a future PM. National Commission for SCs chairman PL Punia said Rahul would get full support from dalits when he becomes PM because of his firm belief that progress could only come by taking this "half of India" along.

The Rahul-as-PM refrain is viewed from the traditional party belief of returning the top post to the first family after chief Sonia Gandhi turned down the job in 2004 and nominated Manmohan Singh. However, the drift in the central government and the sense of siege over corruption may lend the call for Rahul to take over to a different interpretation.

Ajit Jogi first made the demand by circulating a letter in UPA-1 and slowly the demand caught on. However, later, the family snubbed senior partymen through an official statement.

Sonia`s firm vote of confidence for Manmohan Singh ahead of the 2009 elections settled the debate as did Rahul`s own decision to turn down the offer of ministership at the Centre. At a press conference in UPA-2, Singh rebuffed speculation about his quitting midway, saying there was no chance of giving up prematurely when he had a long agenda to accomplish.