Sheila Dikshit refers to Rahul Gandhi as future PM

Calling Rahul Gandhi the future prime minister, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday said she will go to him the day he occupies the government's top post and seek easing of land norms for faster progress of the city.

Speaking at a function held to confer freehold rights own residents of 45 resettlement colonies, Dikshit said there was multiplicity of authorities in the capital which led to difficulties in getting clearances for projects.

"The day he (Rahul Gandhi) becomes PM, we will go to him for improving conditions. There is a need of systemic change," Dikshit said.

Rahul Gandhi, in his speech, said that he would strive to hasten the process to improve Delhi's standing as a world class city.

Dikshit's remarks have come days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that Rahul Gandhi was an ideal choice for the prime minister's position after the 2014 election.

Manmohan Singh also said on his way back from G20 Summit in St. Petersburg on Saturday that he would be very happy to work for the Congress party under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.

The remarks was construed as an indication that Rahul Gandhi would be the party's prime ministerial choice if the Congress wins the general elections next year.

Delhi Urban Development Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely also referred to Rahul Gandhi in his speech.

"The whole country is looking towards Rahulji," Lovely said.

The decision to give freehold rights to residents in resettlement colonies is expected to provide relief to 1.5 million people in Delhi. It is being seen as a major election sop by the Congress government ahead of assembly elections later this year.

Dikshit said that a scheme to give residential plots in resettlement colonies had been unveiled by former prime minister Indira Gandhi and ownership rights were being given by her grandson Rahul Gandhi.

Delhi government officials said that resettlement colonies and slums clusters were once on the outskirts of the city but came within its periphery and were now prime property areas.

The occupants, however, had been leading a life of uncertainty because they had no rightful claim of ownership of their dwelling as the land on which these were built belonged to the central government.

The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board has devised payment norms for ownership rights of residential plots in the resettlement colonies.