New Delhi:

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi “sacrificed” the premiership, adding that only the Gandhi family could keep the Congress “united” .

The deputy chief minister of Karnataka said that in 2004, when the Congress party was in trouble, Sonia Gandhi led the party back to power.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Shivakumar said, “She (Sonia Gandhi) was very successful in forming the Congress government. The Congress was in a very difficult situation. But she brought the Congress back to power.” She brought the Congress back to power. Manmohan Singh became Prime Minister and all MPs, regardless of UPA, wanted her to become Prime Minister. The entire UPA wants her to become the Prime Minister. She made sacrifices for economists. It was the greatest sacrifice in history that a woman in the world refused to take advantage of the opportunity to become Prime Minister. For the sake of the country, she nominated Manmohan Singh. This was the ultimate sacrifice that the Gandhi family made for this country. “

Sonia Gandhi took over as Congress president in 1998, seven years after the assassination of her husband, former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and served until 2017.

When asked whether Rahul Gandhi would make the same “sacrifice” if the Congress wins the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Shivakumar said the decision would be taken by the party’s members of Parliament, adding Said, he (Rahul Gandhi) fought for the “unity of this country”.

“First of all, let us all join. The party and members of Parliament will answer the call. He (Rahul Gandhi) is our leader and fights for the unity of this country and fights to keep everyone united, no matter what happens What. As a price, he is fighting for his country. No one in the history of this country has come as far as he has,” he added.

“He (Rahul Gandhi) has made huge sacrifices for this country. He can also become the Prime Minister. He can also become the Prime Minister after Manmohan Singh. He never thought about power. He wanted the party to be in power… ….He said, no. I want an economist (Manmohan Singh) and let him run the show. He (Rahul Gandhi) doesn’t look at power,’ Karnataka Deputy Prime Minister Bang said.

Mr. Shivakumar further said that Rahul Gandhi is fighting for the party and the Wayanad MP has given a lot of strength to the party members.

“There is a chance. We all put pressure on him (Rahul Gandhi) to take the lead. But he said, still let Manmohan Singh run the country. Look, you should know one thing. Only the Gandhi family The Karnataka deputy minister said: “The Congress party can be kept united and when the Congress party is united, the country is united. This is the greatest strength in the history of the Congress Party. It keeps the country together. “

Mr. Shivakumar refused to comment on the possibility of Rahul Gandhi not wanting to become the Prime Minister, saying, “I will not comment on it. Let this assembly election be over. I will not shy away from commenting later. I We will meet again when we come.”

In early 2004, the Bharatiya Janata Party held early elections while launching the “India Shines” campaign. The BJP won only 138 seats, while the Congress won 145 seats. The CPM won 43 seats, the Samajwadi Party won 43 seats and the BJP won 24 seats. Others again dominated with 157 seats.

The BJP admitted defeat, the Congress subsequently formed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) with the support of other parties, and Manmohan Singh was elected prime minister.

Dr. Manmohan Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister on May 22 after the 2004 general election and was re-elected on May 22, 2009.

It is worth noting that the 18th Lok Sabha election will be held in seven phases starting from April 19, 2024, to elect 543 Lok Sabha seats across the country. Counting of votes will take place on June 4.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)