Solapur (Maharashtra): In remarks that could raise the hackles of many in Congress, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Saturday said he would be happy to see NCP chief Sharad Pawar become the prime minister, describing the Maratha strongman as his 'political guru'.
"I would be happy if Pawar becomes the PM. He is my political guru. I entered politics because of him," Shinde said in an interaction with editors of a Marathi newspaper here.
"Everone has ambition. He has been trying since 1992," he said.
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Shinde's remarks came ahead of Congress' crucial session on January 17, amid reports that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi could be named its Prime Ministerial candidate at the meet.
"There is no reason for (having) two views on this. I have said this many times, even on national platform," Shinde said.
Pawar has been trying to become PM since 1992, but was a 'victim of Delhi politics', he said.
But as Delhi went into a tizzy over the comment, Shinde quickly said he would like to see Rahul Gandhi as the next PM. He said he had backed Pawar as he was the tallest leader in Maharashtra, a state he belonged to.
Pawar, who broke away from Congress on the issue of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin in 1999 to form NCP, has made it clear that he would not contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and instead intends to take the Rajya Sabha route to Parliament.
Shinde’s bombshell, which some analysts feel was a sort of beginning of a revolt over Rahul Gandhi’s style of functioning which envisages retiring aging leaders, comes ahead of the January 17 AICC meeting where the Congress Vice President is likely to named PM candidate of the Congress.
Meanwhile, NCP has said Pawar was not in the race for the prime minister's post despite being 'most eligible'.
"Sharad Pawar is not in PM's race," NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik told PTI, reacting to Shinde's remarks.
"True, Pawar saheb is the most eligible candidate around, but as far as NCP is concerned, we know it's a numbers game," Malik said, adding "We know our limitations. No one becomes the prime minister by contesting a few seats."
Next: Shinde concedes no Cong leader will be next PM: BJP
Shinde concedes no Cong leader will be next PM: BJP
New Delhi: BJP on Saturday said Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's remarks that he would be happy if NCP Chief Sharad Pawar becomes the Prime Minister shows that Congress has accepted that Manmohan Singh's successor will not be from the party.
"In a way, Shinde has already conceded that no Congress leader will be the next Prime Minister. He may daydream about who should be Prime Minister but the people have already reposed their faith in Narendra Modi's leadership," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
He claimed that the people have already decided to make Narendra Modi the next Prime Minister of the country and the clamour for him is growing everyday.
"In Modi people see the hope of economic progress, real justice and realisation of their aspirations....After the polls, Shinde will have no work in choosing the Prime Minister," Javadekar said, alluding to the loss of Congress in the polls. Asked if Aam Admi Party will be a challenge for Modi and BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, he replied in the negative.
