Virtually ruling himself out of the prime ministership race after 2014 elections, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday that Rahul Gandhi is an "ideal choice" for the post and he was ready to work under him in the Congress party.
"I have always maintained that Rahul Gandhi would be an ideal choice for the PM post after 2014 elections (Lok Sabha).
I will be very happy to work in the Congress under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi," the prime minister told reporters accompanying him on board the special Air India aircraft on his way home after attending the G20 summit in the Russian city of St Petersburg.
80-year-old Singh was replying to a question on whether it is possible for him to seek a third term on the grounds that many in the Congress would like to see Rahul, Vice President of Congress, to lead the party.
Rahul Gandhi ideal for PM's post: PM [Watch Video]
Singh also did not rule out any alliances with erstwhile ally Trinamool Congress in the future, saying in politics there are no permanent enemies and permanent friends.
He was asked whether the Congress will seek an alliance with Trinamool for the upcoming Parliamentary elections.
"In politics, there are no permanent enemies and permanent friends. And in many ways, a week in politics is sometimes an unusually long period of time," he said, adding, "So, I don't rule out, for example, alliances."
Noting that Mamata Banerjee was a very respectable member of the Congress party at one time, the prime minister said the Congress was also very happy to have her in the UPA government.
Singh said the Congress would very much like like-minded, secular minded persons to work again to give the country's polity a thrust in favour of secular elements.
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