RaGa was offered PM post in UPA-II, but he declined: Cong

Congress Rajya Sabha MP, Shaktisinh Gohil revealed that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had offered Rahul Gandhi to take over as PM of the country, but Gandhi declined it.

New Delhi: After Congress general secretary incharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's interview hit the headlines in which she favoured the idea of a non-Gandhi to be appointed as party president, Congress revealed, on Wednesday, that former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh had offered Rahul Gandhi to take up his post, during the era of UPA-II, but he declined it.

Addressing a virtual press conference, Congress Rajya Sabha MP, Shaktisinh Gohil stated that Dr Manmohan Singh had offered to resign due to his ill-health but Rahul Gandhi asked him to continue being the PM and to complete his tenure, asserting over the point that Gandhis never hankered for power.

"Narasimha Rao ji, along with all the MPs, requested Sonia Gandhi ji to become the PM but she refused stating the reason that her children are young. She even chose well renowned economist, Dr Manmohan Singh for the PM post in UPA-I. While in UPA-II, Dr Singh offered Rahul Gandhi to become the PM as his health was not good, but Rahul Gandhi declined it," Gohil added.

The offer was made to Gandhi just two years before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, after senior party leaders, felt that Congress need to go to the polls with a new face to rejuvenate the party. Then Union Minister P Chidambaram had even stated this before media that it is time for Congress to announce it's PM face. This statement came in the wake of an interview given by Priyanka Gandhi for a book, named India Tomorrow: Conversations with Next Generation Political Leaders, authored by Harish Shah and Pradeep Chibber.

However, as an official statement of Congress, party's Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that it is "an year old remark" by Priyanka Gandhi which became "the sudden media interest egged on by BJP".

In a series of tweets, he said, "Nehru-Gandhi family has held together and served Congress unmindful of trappings of power. In 2004, Sonia ji set an example by sacrificing power to serve the party. In 2019, Rahul ji show the courage of conviction and step down as INC president."

"We at Congress appreciate the sudden media interest (egged on by BJP) in a year old remark, dated 1st July 2019, of Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The context today is to take on the vicious attack on India's polity by Modi-Shah dispensation and fight it fearlessly on front foot," he further added.

He even defended Rahul Gandhi's leadership, saying, "Millions of Congress workers and leaders have seen that Shri Rahul Gandhi has led the fight tirelessly, undaunted by the setbacks and vile attacks by Modi government on a daily basis. It is this fearlessness and uncompromising courage that requires, workers respect and Nation needs."

However, recently, sacked Congress' spokesperson, Sanjay Jha, claimed that around 100 Congressmen have written a letter to Sonia Gandhi, asking for a change in political leadership and transparent elections within the organisation.