Villupuram (TN): Undeterred by the cold response to his call to project Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial face of the Opposition bloc for the 2019 elections, DMK chief MK Stalin on Sunday said some state leaders would take a call on the recommendation at a later date.
"Some people questioned whether I can propose Rahul Gandhi's name as the prime ministerial candidate. What is wrong in that?" he said at an event here. "If we do not propose (Rahul Gandhi's name), then who will? Did anyone deny it? Some state leaders are planning to decide on it after sorting out differences in their respective states," he said.
Stalin had on December 16 vowed to make Gandhi the country's next prime minister, lauding him for having the ability to defeat the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.
"In 2018, on the occasion of unveiling Thalaivar Kalaignar statue, I propose, we will install a new prime minister in Delhi. We will build a new India, as the son of Thalaivar Kalaignar, I propose the candidature of Rahul Gandhi from Tamil Nadu," he had said.
However, his remarks did not go down well with the Opposition, with several parties saying the “premature” announcement could spell trouble for the alliance.
The DMK chief reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a 'sadist' as he did not visit Tamil Nadu after Cyclone Gaja that left a trail of destruction and claimed more than 50 lives in the state.
"Today, the topic is being widely debated. What's wrong in my comment? I did not say it at a personal level. Not as a leader of the BJP, he's the prime minister now. I am saying he did not even offer condolences to those who lost their lives due to cyclone Gaja," Stalin said.
Reacting to his remarks, BJP Tamil Nadu unit President Tamilisai Soundarrajan said in Chennai that Stalin has become the "saddest Stalin". "Stalin called Modi sadist in the presence of Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, but it is he who is the saddest," she told reporters.
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