Manmohan Singh does not rule out the possibility of becoming prime minister once again, though he thinks it is too early to think about that.
“It is too early to talk in terms of a potential prime ministerial candidate. The Congress has several leaders who are equally or better qualified than I am. I have not applied my mind to that sort of question,” he said at a press conference on his return flight from a tour to the US and France. PM's take.
The polls will be held next year.
Singh said he thinks he has “nearly succeeded” in managing coalition politics and in his role as “the captain of the team”. “We have given this country a purposeful government,” he said.
Singh shared views on issues ranging from politics and economics to his own personality.
Singh said he has disproved charges that the Congress cannot manage coalition politics. He said he felt “very sad” when the “Left colleagues parted company”, but was non-committal about seeking their support once again.
On if he made compromises to run the government and how he transformed over time, Singh said: “... now
I am the captain of the team. It is a coalition government and there are compulsions, which often puts a constraint.”
“The charge against the Congress is that it is not good at managing coalitions. I wanted to prove that wrong and I think we have nearly succeeded,” he added.
“The charge against the Congress is that it is not good at managing coalitions. I wanted to prove that wrong and I think we have nearly succeeded,” he added.