I would be happy if Sharad Pawar becomes the PM, says Shinde

Solapur: In remarks that could raise the hackles of many in Congress, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today said he would be happy to see NCP chief Sharad Pawar become the prime minister, describing the Maratha strongman as his "political guru".

"I would be happy if Pawar becomes the PM. He is my political guru. I entered politics because of him," Shinde said in an interaction with editors of a Marathi newspaper here.

Sushilkumar Shinde. PTI

"Everone has ambition. He has been trying since 1992," he said.

Shinde's remarks came ahead of Congress' crucial session on 17 January, amid reports that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi could be named its Prime Ministerial candidate at the meet.

"There is no reason for (having) two views on this. I have said this many times, even on national platform," Shinde said.

Pawar has been trying to become PM since 1992, but was a "victim of Delhi politics" he said.

Pawar, who broke away from Congress on the issue of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin in 1999 to form NCP, has made it clear that he would not contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and instead intends to take the Rajya Sabha route to Parliament.

Meanwhile, NCP has said Pawar was not in the race for the prime minister's post despite being "most eligible".

"Sharad Pawar is not in PM's race," NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik told PTI, reacting to Shinde's remarks.

"True, Pawar saheb is the most eligible candidate around, but as far as NCP is concerned, we know it's a numbers game," Malik said, adding "We know our limitations. No one becomes the prime minister by contesting a few seats."

PTI