Days after praising West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy said on Thursday, 24 January, that his party backs Congress President Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate for the Lok Sabha elections.
The Janata Dal (Secular) leader’s statement comes after he said that Banerjee was a “good administrator” and had all the capabilities to lead the country.
In an interview to NDTV on Thursday, Kumaraswamy said:
“My party’s decision is we want to support Rahul Gandhi as prime ministerial candidate. This is our commitment and it remains so. I said among regional parties, there are several able leaders there, other than the BJP. Why not Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee... But our party is committed to installing Rahul Gandhi as prime minister.”HD Kumaraswamy, Karnataka CM, as told to NDTV
He added that his father and former Prime Minister Deve Gowda was also committed to this.
The Karnataka chief minister is leading a coalition government in the state with the support of Congress.
Drawing parallels with the situation the country in 1977, when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi faced revolt from various quarters, Kumaraswamy said, “The present scenario is quite similar to that period. Even the politicians sat together and selected their leader. This time, too, I think we will also have no problem in doing that.”
Kumaraswamy – who was part of the Trinamool Congress-led mega Opposition rally on Saturday, 19 January – had told PTI earlier this month:
“She (Mamata) is simplest of the simple and a very good administrator. I believe that Mamata ji has all the capabilities of leading the country. And she has already proved herself by leading West Bengal for so many years. ”
(With inputs from NDTV and PTI)
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