Hyderabad, August 28: Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has predicted that Rahul Gandhi would become the prime minister of the country after 2014 elections.
Speaking at a meeting of Congress MLAs and DCC presidents at the Gandhi Bhavan here on Thursday, he said: ‘‘It is certain that Rahul will become Prime Minister. It is our duty to ensure that we win not less than 41 Lok Sabha seats in AP so that the Congress can get an absolute majority with not less than 275 seats in the Lower House.’’ In the State too, MLAs and party workers should ensure that the Congress wins at least 230 seats, he said.
Reddy felt it was not difficult for the party to get an absolute majority at the Centre given the unfolding crisis in the BJP. ‘‘The BJP is already in deep crisis and it will weaken further,’’ he prophesied.
On the performance of the party in the last elections, he attributed the less than expected results to overconfidence among grass-roots workers.
‘‘Next time, no such risk should be taken,’’ he cautioned and wanted the MLAs and workers to ensure that no irregularities took place in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The Chief Minister promised to complete all irrigation projects by 2014 to irrigate at least one crore acres in the State.
He exhorted the party MLAs to attend Assembly sessions without fail.
Expressing unhappiness over the presence of only a few MLAs in the House on Wednesday night when the Opposition had pressed for a division of vote, he warned that it shouldn’t recur.
–Agencies