News Politics National Why did Manish Tewari deny rumours of PM resigning?

Why did Manish Tewari deny rumours of PM resigning?

New Delhi: After the Prime Minister's Office today announced that the PM would address a press conference in Delhi on January 3 at 11 am, rumour mills went on the overdrive saying that Dr Manmohan

PTI adds: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's office also rejected speculations about any intention of stepping down ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

The speculation was triggered by the Prime Minister's decision to hold a rare press conference here on January three, which will only be the third of his current tenure.

"The Prime Minister will complete his tenure," the PMO said, rubbishing a report of his stepping down before the polls.

A media report had speculated that Singh may step down ahead of the Lok Sabha polls to make way for Rahul Gandhi.

There has been a growing clamour within the Congress party to name Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate, particularly after the reverses suffered by the party in the state assembly polls.

Only yesterday, senior leader and Finance Minister P ChidambaramI said Congress should project its Prime Ministerial candidate for the general elections next year.

"...in my view, the party (Congress) should project a person as the leader of the party who will become prime minister if the party forms the government. That is my view,
but it is for the party to decide."

Shedding his reticence in recent days, Rahul Gandhi has been pro-active and has spoken on a number of issues such as Lokpal Bill and the Adarsh Housing scam in Mumbai, two issues  on which he has made decisive interventions.