New Delhi: Congress party vice-president Rahul Gandhi indicated his willingness to be the Congress’ prime ministerial candidate, effectively setting the stage for the party to make the announcement at its Friday meeting.

“I am a sepoy of Congress. I will obey whatever order is given to me. I will do whatever Congress wants me to do... Decisions are taken in our party by senior leaders," he told Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar in an interview.

The Congress’ hand was forced by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that, in September, announced that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi would be its prime ministerial candidate in the elections that will likely be held in April and May.

In early December, after losing elections in four key states Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the party would announce its own prime ministerial candidate.

In his interview published on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi said India needs Congress rule.

“In the national interest, it is necessary that Congress forms the government at the Centre; and in this direction whatever responsibilities the organization has given me, I will discharge them with utmost sincerity and honesty."

Criticizing Gandhi’s remarks, BJP’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad said the nation is keen for a change and has already seen Rahul Gandhi’s “capability and talent but rejected it".

“He is going to be declared as a prime ministerial candidate by his party because of his family connection and because Congress party cannot think beyond the family... His campaign, his political approach, his silence on a whole range of corruption issues have already been rejected by the people in so many elections," Prasad said.

Gandhi, 43, had previously given the impression that he was not keen on any position in government. He has preferred to spend the past 10 years outside the government, focusing on the party. Last January, while taking over as vice-president of the Congress party, he famously said, “power is poison" as he sought to portray himself as an outsider trying to change the system and not the heir apparent of India’s first political family.

In the interview, he clarified that by referring to power as poison he did not mean to imply that he was not keen to take on responsibility.

Since taking over as vice-president, Gandhi has been working on restructuring the party, refusing to take up a ministerial post despite demands from the rank and file as well as leaders.

His change of mind comes at a time when the 128-year-old party has lost ground, both in voters’ minds as well as state assemblies, to the BJP and the new Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which now rules in Delhi. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) meets on Friday to discuss the strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

Political analysts say Gandhi is the Congress party’s “best bet".

“Whatever can be done to salvage the situation can be done only by Rahul Gandhi. But I don’t think he will be ready for a direct fight between Narendra Modi and himself. The Congress will declare his name but he might say it is up to coalition partners," said Jai Mrug, a Mumbai-based political analyst.

The BJP has tried to portray the coming elections as a fight between Modi and Gandhi. In his campaign speeches, the Gujarat chief minister has specifically targeted Gandhi.

In recent weeks, even as the BJP has tried to factor in the AAP’s surge, the Congress has put together a team comprising executives from an ad agency and a public relations firm to get the Gandhi campaign on the road. Media reports claim that around ₹ 400-500 crore will be spent on this. Mint couldn’t independently verify this number.

Since its return to power in 2009, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance has been besieged by corruption scandals and also come under fire for its mismanagement of the economy.

Gandhi, Mrug added, is “trying to make, at least, the complexion of the party look better".

On Monday, the Congress announced Sachin Pilot and Arun Yadav, two young leaders, as the chiefs of its state units in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, respectively.

In the interview, Gandhi claimed that the Congress is “strong and progressive" and remains engaged in the process of changing the nature and role of politics in the country.

Although he agreed that the AAP, which has formed a minority government in Delhi, has also worked in that direction, he said some of its recent decisions were aimed at “short-term gain". His reference is to the AAP’s populist water- and power-giveaways.

Drawing parallels between the current political scenario with events in history, Gandhi said: “India has witnessed Samrat Ashok, Akbar and Aurangzeb. Ashok is famous for integrating people; Akbar too worked in this direction and this is why people take their name with great respect. However, Aurangzeb is known for other reasons. On the same lines, Congress is working towards national integration and inclusive growth for everyone."

The BJP, he said, wants to form a “one-man centric government at the Centre which is not good in the national interest. The government should not function according to the whims and fancy of a single person".

“The future of over 120 crore people can be safeguarded with inclusive politics only. The Congress lives in this country’s DNA. BJP’s demand of Congress-free Bharat is a vague idea. The BJP seems to have forgotten that Congress alone is a political force which has preserved the social fabric of this country," he added.

About his sister Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra’s role in politics, he said she will be helping the Congress to “make the organization a strong and trusted political force".

PTI contributed to this story.

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