PM post Congress's birthday wish for Rahul Gandhi

As Rahul Gandhi turns 41 today, voices in the Congress are clamouring for the young leader to become the next prime minister. But party leaders said Gandhi alone would decide whether or not he wants the country’s top executive post.

While Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh has said that the MP from Amethi has all the qualities and capabilities to become a “good prime minister”, another party leader, Birender Singh said Gandhi would fit the role whenever the situation demands.

Digvijay Singh, who is in charge of Uttar Pradesh, is working closely with Gandhi to bring the party back to power in the country’s most populous state in next year’s assembly elections.

Digvijay Singh, who has had differences with some decisions of senior ministers, added that Gandhi was mature, with a sound understanding of social and political issues and had qualities of head and heart.

Many other leaders IANS spoke to echoed Digvijay Singh’s feelings. Congress general secretary Birender Singh said that Gandhi, son of party president Sonia Gandhi, had all the qualities to be the prime minister.

“The party is behind him. He has to take his own decision,” Birender Singh said. Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said that most partymen had the feeling that Gandhi was capable of becoming a good leader.

Party sources said that renewed talk about Gandhi’s suitability to become prime minister has also been driven by a feeling in sections of the party that the second tenure of the UPA government has been marked by a string of controversies.