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This article was first published 11 years ago

Dilli Gupshup: Why won't the Gandhis do it?

Last updated on: May 23, 2013 19:09 IST

Image: Rahul Gandhi is not keen on becoming prime minister. His mother Sonia has made it clear she won't ever take up the post.
Photographs: Adnan Abidi/ Reuters

Why didn't Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari go to Cannes?

What does Railway Minister C P Joshi desperately need?

And where is Digvijaya Singh?

All this, and more, in this week's Dilli Gupshup.

The Gandhis, seemingly, are refusing to do it, which leaves the Congress in a quandary.

If -- and considering the myriad problems the United Progressive Alliance government finds itself mired in these days, that could be a very big IF! -- the UPA wins the 2014 elections, who will be India's next prime minister?

It increasingly looks like Manmohan Singh has run his course; both the Congress and the nation seem tired of the good doctor.

Going by private conversations at the UPA's fourth anniversary dinner, it does not look like he is going to be projected as the alliance's prime ministerial candidate in the 2014 elections.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her son, Rahul, too talked about 'collective leadership' at the dinner... another indicator of the coming change.

Old-timers wonder how Singh -- who recently replied, "We will cross that bridge when we reach there" when asked about his third term as prime minister (clearly, he's interested!) -- would react to this 'collective leadership'.

Rahul continues to show lack of interest in the prime ministerial chair, which leaves the Congress with four aspirants -- Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh.

While Shinde and Kumar are considered lightweight, there is a growing feeling within the Congress that Chidambaram will edge out Diggy Raja.

All eyes on PC then... is he India's next prime minister?

Please click on NEXT to find out why Manish Tewari is a worried man...


Why is Manish Tewari worried?

Image: Will Manish Tewari win back his parliamentary seat?
Photographs: Sahil Salvi

Manish Tewari is a worried man these days.

Instead of travelling to Cannes for the prestigious film festival, the Union minister for information and broadcasting chose to campaign for the panchayat polls in his parliamentary constituency, Ludhiana.

But the poll results were extremely disappointing, a clear indicator that dark clouds loom large over Tiwari's prospects of returning to Parliament in 2014.

Please click on NEXT to find out why Railways Minister C P Joshi needs help...

Bureaucrats shun railway ministry

Image: Union Railway Minister C P Joshi is desperately in need of personal staff at Rail Bhavan.
Photographs: Courtesy: cpjoshi.com

Union Railways Minister C P Joshi needs help. He is looking for personal staff at Rail Bhavan, but most bureaucrats are not keen on the post.

Since Joshi is in charge of surface transport as well, the babus are apparently unsure about his prospects of staying on in the railway ministry.

They are waiting for the Cabinet reshuffle, tentatively slated for early next month, to see if Manmohan Singh retains Joshi or brings someone new.

In December 2012, when the Trinamool ministers had quit the Union Cabinet at Mamatadi's behest, Joshi had held temporary charge of railways.

But the Rajasthan Congress is batting for its leader with their latest slogan, 'RAC nahi (no RAC), confirmed ticket for Joshi.'

Rajasthan goes to the polls later this year.

Please click on NEXT to find out why Rashid Alvi does not agree with Sonia Gandhi...

Why me, asks Alvi?

Image: Sonia Gandhi's decision has left Rashid Alvi confused.

Sonia Gandhi recently removed Rashid Alvi from the post of AICC spokesperson on the grounds that he had come from the Bahujan Samaj Party.

By that yardstick, the new set of Congress spokespersons are 'outsiders' as well.

Actor Raj Babbar, Mohan Prakash and Bhakta Charan Das were part of the Janata Dal while Renuka Chowdhury has come from the Telugu Desam Party.

A hurt Alvi has been privately asking, "Mera kusoor kya tha (what was my fault?)"

Please click on NEXT to find out where Digvijaya Singh has disappeared to...

Where is Diggy Raja?

Image: Digvijaya Singh is in the US to attend his son Jaivardhan's graduation ceremony at Columbia University.
Photographs: Paresh Gandhi

For those of you who have been missing the highly vocal Congress general secretary, he is in the US these days.

Digvijaya Singh has taken time off to attend his son Jaivardhan Singh's graduation ceremony at Columbia University.

Jaivardhan, who is set to make his political debut from the Raghogarh assembly seat in family pocket borough of Guna, has done his MBA in rural development.

Madhya Pradesh goes to the polls in November 2013.