PM-ship question is open: PC

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 13

Ahead of counting of votes for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Opposition Congress today said the question of prime minister-ship was open and would be decided by non-BJP parties that will sit together after elections.

“We have clearly said more than once that we are quite happy to accept whatever the leaders of the non-BJP parties decide on who shall be the PM. When I say non-BJP, I include the Congress also,” Congress veteran and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram told The Tribune.

Chidambaram said the question of prime minister-ship is always open and that is the case on the BJP side too. “PM-ship is always open. Even in the BJP, let me tell you. Don’t rule out a BJP-led government with a different PM though it is very unlikely that the BJP will form the government.

I think a non-BJP government will be formed,” Chidambaram said, when asked if the Congress was flexible on PM-ship and was keeping it open.

The former FM said the talks about disunity in the Opposition ranks were mere perceptions and non-BJP parties will sit together post-poll and decide the formation of the next government.

“After the elections. I think the non-BJP parties will get together. I think they will realise that the non-Congress, non-BJP parties cannot form the government on their own. So actually there are only two options — a BJP government or a non-BJP government. After the elections, non-BJP parties will get together, they will read the situation correctly and will make every effort to form the government and I sincerely hope they will succeed in forming a non-BJP government,” Chidambaram said.

Asked if he was ruling out a Congress-led government among the likely scenarios on May 23, Chidambaram said, “The non-BJP government could be led by the Congress.”

The senior Congressman, who headed the party’s Lok Sabha manifesto committee, also said emissaries had been appointed by the party to engage non-BJP outfits ahead of counting day and the Opposition leaders were already in touch with each other. 

“I think there are a number of people who are in touch with each other. I can off-hand name TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, Sharad Pawar. I am sure the Congress may have also appointed emissaries to keep in touch with other political parties,” Chidambaram said to a question on Congress’ post-poll strategy. 

Asked if Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad was the party’s pointsman to engage the Opposition, the former FM said, “Quite possible.”

On the issue of Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda’s “hua toh hua” comments about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Chidambaram said people knew the Congress had apologised for the killings in the best manner possible and the matter was over.

ON who heads...

Quite happy to accept what the leaders of non-BJP parties decide on who shall be the PM. —P Chidambaram