Rahul Gandhi could have become the country's Prime Minister anytime between 2004 and 2014 if he wanted to but chose not to.
This was stated by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy while speaking at the 75th birth anniversary celebrations of former Chief Minister of the combined Andhra Pradesh late YS Rajasekhara Reddy at Gandhi Bhavan, the party headquarters in Hyderabad.
“Rahul Gandhi is the kind of leader who never hankers after power. Positions are not important to him. Though the PM’s post was there for the asking, he chose not to take it,” Revanth said.
The Chief Minister urged the Congress workers to strive to make Rahul the PM in the next elections. “It was the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul that helped the party come to power in Telangana, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh,” he said.
Paying rich tributes to Rajasekhar Reddy, who steered the Congress to back-to-back victories in the 2004 and 2009 elections, he said that the welfare schemes envisioned by YSR remained permanently etched in the hearts of the people.
“Welfare programmes introduced by YSR during his rule are the inspiration for the ‘six guarantees’ announced by Congress in the recently held Assembly elections,” Revanth said.
“I remember YSR’s statement after coming to power for the second consecutive time in 2009 that Rahul Gandhi will become Prime Minister of India. YSR left us before Rahul could ascend to the post. All Congress workers should strive hard to make him the Prime Minister,” he said.
YSR served as the chief minister of undivided AP between 2004 and 2009. Three months after returning to power, he died in a chopper crash in September 2009.
Reddy said that YSR’s padayatra, which helped bring Congress to power in AP, also influenced Rahul to embark on his Bharat Jodo Yatra.
“Rahul Gandhi is already working hard as the leader of the opposition. He is just one step away from assuming the PM post. The country will develop only under his leadership,” he said.
Urging Congress workers to take an oath to make Rahul the PM, he said, “Posts and positions are not important for Rahul Gandhi. He could have become the PM anytime between 2004 and 2014. True supporters of YSR are those who work hard to make Rahul the next Prime Minister… I appeal to all YSR fans to join the Congress.”
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