'Rahul for PM': Stalin's declaration can send wrong signals, says TMC
D Govardan | TNN | Updated: Dec 18, 2018, 01:57 IST
(L-R) DMK chief MK Stalin, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, newly sworn-in Madhya Pradesh Ch... Read MoreCHENNAI: DMK president M K Stalin's dramatic announcement on Sunday projecting AICC president Rahul Gandhi as the united opposition's prime ministerial candidate for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections has set off a debate among the prospective allies.
While Mamata Banerjee's TMC has dubbed Stalin's proposal premature, SP and BSP have gone silent, and TDP has sidestepped the issue.
"TMC believes such announcements are premature and sends out a wrong message," said a TMC MP seeking anonymity. "Other opposition parties, too, believe any decision on the PM candidate should be decided after the Lok Sabha election results. Any such announcement can divide the opposition camp."
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who was seated on the dais at the unveiling of a statue of M Karunanidhi, watched silently as Stalin made his speech and proposed Rahul Gandhi as PM. A day later, the internal mood in TDP on the topic is to maintain a safe distance, since Naidu for now is keen to play an important role as a facilitator for the anti-BJP front.
"Our leader is focused on the formation of this front. DMK's preference for Rahul can be understood as it had been part of UPA regime twice, but we will not say anything on this because our focus is not on the PM candidate," TDP national spokesman Lanka Dinkar told TOI.
DMK leaders said Stalin's announcement was not a planned one. "It shows our intention," said veteran DMK leader and party treasurer S Duraimurugan on Stalin proposing Rahul for PM. "I am not aware," Duraimurugan said when asked if Sonia or Rahul were aware of Stalin going to make such a proposal.
"It was extempore," a DMK leader said. "As per original plan, Rahul was not to attend the function; his name was not on the invitation."
Two senior Congress netas told TOI they weren't entirely surprised. "We are told Stalin was waiting for the right occasion to make this announcement," said one of them. "Somebody has to broach this subject, sometime. DMK is a strong regional party in southern India. Deve Gowda has already said he has no problem with Rahul being projected as PM. Stalin's announcement will send a signal to other parties to voice their opinion," TNCC president S Thirunavukkarasar said.
(With inputs from Sreebala Vadlapatla)
While Mamata Banerjee's TMC has dubbed Stalin's proposal premature, SP and BSP have gone silent, and TDP has sidestepped the issue.
"TMC believes such announcements are premature and sends out a wrong message," said a TMC MP seeking anonymity. "Other opposition parties, too, believe any decision on the PM candidate should be decided after the Lok Sabha election results. Any such announcement can divide the opposition camp."
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who was seated on the dais at the unveiling of a statue of M Karunanidhi, watched silently as Stalin made his speech and proposed Rahul Gandhi as PM. A day later, the internal mood in TDP on the topic is to maintain a safe distance, since Naidu for now is keen to play an important role as a facilitator for the anti-BJP front.
"Our leader is focused on the formation of this front. DMK's preference for Rahul can be understood as it had been part of UPA regime twice, but we will not say anything on this because our focus is not on the PM candidate," TDP national spokesman Lanka Dinkar told TOI.
DMK leaders said Stalin's announcement was not a planned one. "It shows our intention," said veteran DMK leader and party treasurer S Duraimurugan on Stalin proposing Rahul for PM. "I am not aware," Duraimurugan said when asked if Sonia or Rahul were aware of Stalin going to make such a proposal.
"It was extempore," a DMK leader said. "As per original plan, Rahul was not to attend the function; his name was not on the invitation."
Two senior Congress netas told TOI they weren't entirely surprised. "We are told Stalin was waiting for the right occasion to make this announcement," said one of them. "Somebody has to broach this subject, sometime. DMK is a strong regional party in southern India. Deve Gowda has already said he has no problem with Rahul being projected as PM. Stalin's announcement will send a signal to other parties to voice their opinion," TNCC president S Thirunavukkarasar said.
(With inputs from Sreebala Vadlapatla)
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