PM Manmohan Singh leaves open possibility of race for a third term - Economic Times

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday left open the possibility of him being in the race for a third term. "These are all hypothetical questions. We will cross the bridge when we reach there," Singh said when asked whether he would agree to lead a government if Sonia Gandhi and the Congress select him for the top job. The statement is significant as it comes in the wake of statements from congress leaders that Rahul Gandhi will speardhead 2014 campaign of Congress. In an interview to ET, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh had said that rahul was not reluctant to be the prime ministerial nominee. Singh, who was interacting with journalists on the way back from durban, appeared unfazed by the threats handed out by SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Asked if SP, whose 22 members in Lok Sabha are critical for government, could withdraw support later this year, he said: "Well, obviously coalitions raise issues that sometime give the impression that these arrangements are not very stable arrangements. I cannot deny that such possibilities don't exist. But I am confident that our government will complet e five years and the next Lok Sabha election will be held on schedule (in 2014)." He disputed the assessment that the exit of Trinamool and DMK showed Congress could not hold on to its allies. "I don't share the view. I think that alliances do have compulsions which have to be taken into account. (But ) we will not allow such compulsions to derail reforms or to create a situation that will compromise the essential task of governing a vast country of ours can be put aside," he said. Download ET's mobile applications for iPad, iPho ne, Android, BlackBerry, Nokia and Windows Phone to track news as it happens, live stock quotes, monitor portfolio, get market stats like gainers, losers and movers & much more. To check out free Economic Times apps , Click here "These are all hypothetical questions. We will cross the bridge when we reach there," Singh said when asked whether he would agree to lead a government if Sonia Gandhi and the Congress select him for the top job. via Top Stories - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNF_7COIOYAei3EsPRJH4qaauyuiaw&url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-manmohan-singh-leaves-open-possibility-of-race-for-a-third-term/articleshow/19268118.cms

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