Mount Abu, November 9
Congress President Sonia Gandhi today indicated that she would be the party’s candidate for the post of Prime Minister in the next Lok Sabha poll.

Interacting with the media for the first time after the Congress chief ministers’ meeting in Guwahati last April, Mrs Gandhi said she was satisfied with the party’s progress in her leadership.

“It was not a question to be addressed now. I am satisfied with the party’s progress. I think there is need to do more and more and need to make even greater efforts,” she said answering a question about how close she had progressed towards becoming the Prime Minister in four years as Congress President.

She accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of “consciously discriminating” against the Congress-ruled states in giving relief and blamed it for the food-scarcity deaths in Rajasthan as the state’s demands for relief were not met.

Expressing anguish at the food scarcity deaths in Rajasthan, she said the problem had been compounded by the drought faced by the state for the fourth year in succession. However, she said an inquiry had been ordered. “Considering the seriousness of the issue, the Chief Minister had set up a high-level commission to inquire into the deaths,” she said.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi with Prajapita Brahma Kumaris (a spiritual organisation) chief Dadi Prakashmani Ji after their meeting at Brahma Kumaris world headquarters in Mount Abu on Saturday. — PTI photo

The Centre, she alleged, had been insensitive towards Rajasthan’s demands for relief. “I met the Prime Minister in August last with some party Chief Ministers. Rajasthan had asked for 56 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains but despite the overflowing godowns of the Centre, only two metric tonnes foodgrains has been received by the state,” she said.

Mrs Gandhi denied that there was confusion in the party on disinvestment. “We are against disinvestment of profit-making units,” she emphasised.

Asked about the Amarinder Singh government’s decision to disinvest five profit-making units in the state, Mrs Gandhi said she would have to check from the Chief Minister.

The Congress President said the outcome of the forthcoming Assembly poll in Gujarat would have an impact on the Centre. “We are going to the polls with the message that progress is possible only through peace,” she said. Mrs Gandhi indicated that the Congress would have local seat-sharing adjustment with like-minded parties in Gujarat.

Asked if she had decided to bring Rahul Gandhi into politics, Mrs Gandhi said that he would make his own decision. “It is not correct to say that I have decided this. Both my son and my daughter have been brought up to think and act for themselves as me and my husband were. They are free to take their own decisions,” Mrs Gandhi said.

Mrs Gandhi said though the Congress would try to form a government on its own in the next Lok Sabha polls, it was not opposed to adjustments with like-minded parties.

On Uttar Pradesh, Mrs Gandhi said the party had sought a session of the state Assembly but indicated that the party had not decided to back the Samajwadi Party in its efforts to dethrone the Mayawati government. “We are not for game of breaking governments. The situation is fluid. If the government falls of its own contradiction, then we will take a decision,” she said.

Describing the discussions at Mount Abu conclave as “useful and constructive,” Mrs Gandhi said no formal document was being released at the end of the meeting as the Guwahati resolve was enough to guide the party for a long time to come.

She said some action points were being collated as a follow-up to the Guwahati resolve which will be circulated among the chief ministers. The chief ministers, she said, had been told to strictly implement the party’s Bhopal declaration on weaker sections.