A day before the filing of the nomination for the Congress presidential race, Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday made it clear that the Gandhi family will remain the leader whosoever becomes the president of the party.
Digvijaya Singh said, “The Nehru-Gandhi family will remain our leader. Whoever becomes the party president will work under their leadership. Our priority is to see how the situation in the country improves, won’t let the country divide or the constitution weaken,” he said.
The Daily Guardian on Thursday exclusively talked to Digvijaya Singh to understand his point of view. Here is an excerpts:
TDG Reporter: So, you have officially taken the plunge…..
Digvijaya: What is the meaning of ‘officially’? There is nothing ‘official’ about it. Congress is a democratic party and all PCC delegates have rights to fight in the elections. The party constitution has given us that right. So, I am also contesting the election.
TDG Reporter: Some say that you have blessings of the Gandhi family…that’s why you are contesting the election.
Digvijaya: This is completely wrong. This is my own decision.
TDG Reporter: Why have you taken this decision?
Digvijaya: Reason is simple. I think I am a fit candidate to fight in the Congress Presidential election. I had been MLA for five times, won Lok Sabha elections twice and was in Rajya Sabha twice. I was also delegate of Pradesh Congress Committee. Rajiv Gandhi ji made me the state party chief in Madhya Pradesh. In 1992, I once again became the President of the state unit and in 1993, I became the Chief Minister. From 2004 to 2017, I have been AICC general secretary. So, I have enough experience and I think I am a capable candidate.
TDG Reporter: Did you have any discussion with Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi?
Digvijaya: No, I did not have any discussion with anybody. Sonia Gandhi has clearly said anybody can contest the poll. So, I am here.
TDG Reporter: What is the feedback you are getting? How are you feeling?
Digvijaya: Oh, I am feeling damn good.
TDG Reporter: Sashi Tharoor is in the fray. Did you have any interaction with him?
Digvijaya: Sashi is a candidate who is young, attractive, articulate and has huge international experience. He is in the fray…and that’s a good news. I think we both have many similarities, we both like Gandhi-Nehruvian ideology. We fight for ideology and continue to do that.
TDG Reporter: There is no internal fight?
Digvijaya: No, there is none. We are here to fight an election which is everybody’s right. That’s it.
TDG Reporter: You have said that Congress Presidential election is crucial one. What are the issues you want to bring on the table?
Digvijaya: My first responsibility is to make the ‘Bhart Jodo Yatra’ a great success. I have put my heart and soul here. I will continue to work for that till the Yatra reaches Srinagar.
TDG Reporter: As you earlier told the party needs a solid fighter. Do you think you will rise to the occasion?
Digvijaya: Well, the party decides on this who is what. I am a small worker of the party. Let party workers decide on it.
TDG Reporter: BJP is also reacting to your candidature….
Digvijaya: Oh, that’s quite natural.
TDG Reporter: You have said that you will make ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ a success? As you are a candidate now, how would you do that?
Digvijaya: I will not leave the Yatra. I need not to go anywhere for campaign. Through various modes of communication, I will try to campaign even while in Yatra. That’s possible.
TDG Reporter: When you joined Congress, had you ever thought that you would file your nomination for Congress President?
Digvijaya: I am a very small worker of Congress. This party had Presidents like Motilal Nehru, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Lajpat Rai, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Gandhiji. So, when you are also a candidate for the same post, it is quite natural that you too have a great feeling. I am nowhere as compared to them. However, I will try my best.