We are fighting for Congress Sarkar, not Rahul ki sarkar: Chidambaram

Amid blistering attack by the BJP, former finance minister P Chidambaram came out in defence of Rahul and his party.

The Congress is finding itself in a tight spot after Rahul Gandhi expressed his willingness to become the prime minister if his party emerges as the single largest party in 2019 General Elections. With BJP trying to corner the Congress over Gandhi's remark, the grand old party now seems to be in a damage control mode.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy yesterday dubbed Rahul's remark as "immature", adding that Congress president's comment may push other parties away from forging an alliance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a rally in Karnataka today (May 9), termed Rahul's remark as "nothing but arrogance."

Amid blistering attack by the BJP, former finance minister P Chidambaram came out in defence of Rahul and his party.

"Last time when Rajnath was party president, the posters saying 'Abki bar BJP sarkar' were replaced overnight by 'Abki bar Modi sarkar'. We are not like them, we aren't saying 'Rahul ki sarkar'. We are fighting for 'Congress Sarkar'," News 18 quoted Chidambaram as saying.

Rahul Gandhi who was in Bengaluru yesterday (May 8) was responding to questions by journalists on whether he was willing to become the PM if the the Congress gets the numbers in 2019. "If the Congress wins with the single largest majority, then why not," he said.

It was the first time that Rahul Gandhi openly expressed his interest in taking up the mantle. Although he was an MP when the UPA was in power, he did not join the cabinet led by Dr. Manmohan Singh. He officially took over as the president of the Congress from his mother Sonia Gandhi in December ahead of the Gujarat elections.