Congress never said ‘Officially’ that Rahul Gandhi should be installed as Prime Minister: P Chidambaram

A day after senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid claimed that it will be difficult for the Congress to win 2019 elections on its own, another top party leader P Chidambaram has snubbed Rahul Gandhi. Chidambaram said that the Congress has never said “officially” that its president Rahul Gandhi should be the Prime Minister if an opposition alliance formed the next government, insisting the Congress' focus was on dislodging the BJP government and bringing in a "progressive" alternative.

"The Congress party never said officially that Rahul Gandhi should be installed as prime minister. When one or two persons spoke about it, the AICC leadership asked them not to discuss the issue. We don't have an issue over prime ministership,"  he told News 18 Tamil TV channel.

"That is our intention. The Congress party never said the Prime Minister should be from the party. Rahul Gandhi never said so. An alliance should take shape, that alliance should win, and the alliance parties will decide who will be the prime minister," he added.

The former union finance minister said the Congress' primary focus was on removing the BJP government and replacing it with a progressive alternative.

"We want a government that doesn't snatch human freedom, one that doesn't intimidate citizens, one that doesn't impose tax terrorism on traders and entrepreneurs," he said.

READ | Top Congress Leader Salman Khurshid Claims It’s Difficult For The Party To Win 2019 Elections On Its Own

Top Congress leader Salman Khurshid had in an interview claimed that it will be difficult for the Congress party to win on its own in the 2019 general elections. Khurshid stated that Congress needs allies to win and will have to make compromises for the same.

Salman Khurshid had said that any grand alliance must not be aimed at "containing Congress" and that all its constituents must make sacrifices and adjustments with the sole objective of defeating the BJP-led NDA.

After receiving flak for his statement from some Congress leaders and supporters, Salman Khursid issued a tweet and said, "Am deeply pained at reactions of some supposed Congress supporters to my statement on Grand alliance as need of hour. Can’t they read entire interview? Arrogance and ignorance make a toxic mix. Truth is an ally not enemy. Wake up friends."

In the interview, Khurshid also claimed that it will be difficult for the Congress to come to power on its own.

"All our leaders have made it very clear that an alliance (is needed) to change the country's government. The BJP must go. Whatever it takes to sacrifice, adjust and negotiate to make the alliance a reality, Congress is willing to do, Khurshid told PTI in an interview.

(With PTI Inputs)