Prime Minister Rahul Gandhi? If Congress emerges as largest single party, why not, says INC chief

In March, at a stadium packed with Congress workers, Punjab minister Navjot Sidhu told Rahul Gandhi he would unfurl the tricolour at the Red Fort next year.

His meaning was clear: Narendra Modi would not return as prime minister. He would be succeeded, in Sidhu's view, by the scion of a family that has given India three Congress prime ministers.

But does Rahul Gandhi himself believe that? Does he think he - instead of Modi - will lead India as the government's chief executive till 2024?

If the Congress emerges as the largest single party, "then why not?" he asked in Bengaluru this morning.

And as for the current prime minister, Gandhi's political forecast was grim.

"I'm convinced that PM Modi won't be PM come 2019," he said.

"You may laugh at me," he explained. "But post-2019, I would say that it is highly unlikely that BJP will form a government in 2019 and that Modi will come to power."

Why?

"That's because of the opposition unity today," he said. "Every one in politics is working to overthrow the BJP."

"This is no longer a tactical political fight but a fight against ideology that everyone will come together against."

But before Gandhi can dream of moving into 7 Race Course Road, he needs to help his party thwart a spirited BJP campaign in Karnataka, one of the trio of states his party still governs.

Pre-poll surveys suggest the crucial vote could produce a hung assembly, with the Congress falling well short of a clear majority.