Digvijaya gyan: The buck should stop at one point

Notwithstanding his party rejecting his views on separation of powers between the Prime Minister and the Congress President, Digvijaya Singh has said that the buck should stop at one point and the general impression was that the present system does not really help.

Singh, however, declined to discuss the issue as to who should be the next Prime Minister -- Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi or someone else.

"The question was asked in reference to Rahul Gandhi whether he would -- provided we get the mandate of the people -- like to become the PM? So I had said I think he should become the PM if we have the mandate and, of course, it is always better to have one point at which the buck stops.

"Here, of course, Mrs (Sonia) Gandhi has never interfered in the functioning of the government of India whatever people may say. But the fact remains that, the impression that goes out, the perception that goes around, it doesn't really help," he told Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate programme.

On the perception about his remarks the buck should stop at one point and the present system of "two power centres" creates uncertainties, Singh, who is a Congress General Secretary, said, "This is what I meant."

Singh had recently stoked a controversy by saying that the model of having "two power centres" has not worked well and suggested that Rahul Gandhi should not opt to nominate a Prime Minister if the party gets a majority in the next Lok Sabha polls.

"Personally, I feel that this model hasn't worked very well. Because, I personally feel that there should not be two power centres and I think whoever is the Prime Minister must have the authority to function although Sonia Gandhi has really never interfered in the functioning of the government," Singh had said.

Congress had rubbished Singh's remarks and said this is an "ideal model" even for the future.

"The relationship which has existed between Sonia Gandhi as party President and Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister is something, which is not usually seen everywhere and is unique. I think, for any democracy, this is an ideal model even for the future," party's media department in-charge and general secretary Janardan Dwivedi had said.

On whether he felt that Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi or someone else should be the next Prime Minister, Singh told Thapar that it was a hypothetical question and that the party had to decide the issue.

"On this issue of sensitivity, I will not speak out," he said.