Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi at the Extended Congress Working Committee meeting in New Del... Read More

NEW DELHI: A day after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) pitched for party chief Rahul Gandhi as the opposition’s prime ministerial candidate for the Lok Sabha elections, barring JD(S), not many parties were forthcoming in backing the proposal.

Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda said in Delhi that he had no qualms about Rahul leading the joint opposition front as its PM candidate as JD(S) already has an alliance with Congress in Karnataka. However, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav pointed out that there were many within the opposition who could run for the PM’s post.

“Has the person (Rahul) officially announced that he is the PM candidate? Nonetheless, Mamata Banerjee (TMC), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Mayawati (BSP) as well as Rahul Gandhi, all can become PM. I don’t have reservations on any name,” he said, adding that the onus on taking all the opposition leaders on board for 2019 elections lies with Rahul because Congress is the largest opposition party in the country.

However, Mamata refused to speak on this issue. In Delhi, TMC’s Derek O Brien said, “Why would we comment on a matter which is strictly an internal matter of another political party?” Samajwadi Party indicated that it was not on the same page with Congress on this issue. Party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said: “Our national president has clarified time and again that the PM candidate for the opposition or the alliance parties will be chosen after the election results are announced.”

A senior BSP leader, on condition of anonymity, said this issue would be decided by party president Mayawati.

