New Delhi: Congress on Monday steered clear of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remaining non-committal on Pranab Mukherjee as the next President but strongly backing Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar for the post.
"I have not heard or seen the statement", party spokesman Rashid Alvi told reporters. He was asked to react to Banerjee's remarks that she will be "very happy" to see Meira Kumar, Gopal Gandhi or even APJ Abdul Kalam as the next President.
Alvi said Congress will hold consultations with all concerned on the issue of next President. Banerjee's party Trinamool Congress is the second largest constituent of UPA after Congress. In recent times, it has emerged as the most troublesome ally of Congress in the ruling alliance.
Replying to a question, he dismissed the findings of a survey that spoke of people favouring a young Prime Minister. "Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister and will continue to be. The next Prime Minister will be decided as per the Constitutional procedures after the elections in 2014", he said.
Asked if it means that Rahul Gandhi will not become the Prime Minister, he said Gandhi is not only leader of the party but a national leader who will be at the helm of the government "at the proper time".
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