Indian premier says to step down after elections
Iran Press TV
Fri Jan 3, 2014 10:10AM GMT
Indian Prime Minister Manmoham Singh has announced he will step down from power following elections scheduled to take place in May.
Singh, 81, said that he would step down from power even if his Congress party won the majority for a third consecutive time.
'In a few months' time after the general elections, I will hand over the baton to a new prime minister,' he said during a press conference on Friday.
"I have ruled out myself as the prime ministerial candidate," Singh added.
The Indian premier voiced his support for Indian National Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
'Rahul Gandhi has outstanding credentials. I hope our party will take that decision at an appropriate time.'
This is while recent opinion polls suggest the ruling Congress party is unlikely to receive the majority of votes.
Singh also said that a possible victory for Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra Modi would be "disastrous."
Modi, the party's candidate for prime minister, has come under criticism for failing to take action against violence targeting mostly Muslims in the country.
Singh was elected prime minister in 2004.
SZH/NN
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
