Rahul for PM but not now, says Digvijay Singh

Digvijay Singh, Congress general secretary who was in charge of Uttar Pradesh, told rediff.com, "Rahul Gandhi would become prime minister when we get 285+ seats of our own. Why now?" He was responding to a question as to when Rahul Gandhi will become prime minister.

Singh added, "What is the hurry? We will work to make the party stronger and stronger."

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had telephoned Singh on Saturday morning as the party's success in UP became known. Rahul reportedly told Singh, "Jai ho, Jai ho, mahamantriji!"

Singh humbly told Rahul that the success in UP belonged to him and reiterated his confidence that in the coming state elections the Congress will keep up its good performance.

At around 2 pm Congress president Sonia Gandhi also called Singh to congratulate him on the victory in UP and to inquire about the seats won by the Congress. Singh informed her about all seats and also said that her sister-in-law Maneka Gandhi was trailing (she later won the seat Aonla) and his own brother Lakshman Singh had lost the election on a BJP ticket from Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh.

Sonia Gandhi was overjoyed by the victory in UP, Singh said.

The victory in Uttar Pradesh is the most valuable for both the Gandhi family and the Congress.