Dropping broad hints at what not to expect from the January 17 session of the All India Congress Committee, general secretary Digvijay Singh on Thursday said that in a parliamentary democracy it was not right for parties to declare their prime ministerial candidates ahead of general election.
The senior leader said while the issue had been discussed at the highest level within the party, as a matter of principle, the Congress did not believe in announcing its prime ministerial candidate.
With his statement, Mr. Singh has sought to scotch speculation on the announcement of Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate. Much credence had been lent to the idea with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stating at his recent press conference that he would like to pass on the mantle to some other leader of the UPA following the Lok Sabha poll.
