It looks like Dr.Manmohan Singh is here to stay, at least for one more year.
The next Presidential Election is due in mid-2012 and Dr.Manmohan Singh is the odds-on favourite to be the new President. For one, Congress can claim the moral high ground that he is clean personally, second, that is the easiest way of easing him out and more importantly, he will be another rubber stamp President that Sonia Gandhi wants so desperately. He will never go against her wishes. The fact that he is regarded positively by the West (because he does whatever USA tells him to do) is another positive factor in his favour. Anyway, Congress cannot continue to have him as PM till the next elections, as he has become a political liability.
In such a scenario, who will be the next Prime Minister.
Though Congressmen would cry hoarse over Rahul Gandhi to take over, it is not likely at all. He has refused to be part of the Government and as no administrative experience. It looks like he is more comfortable with grooming himself to take over his mother's post as Congress Chief than to become the PM. He can enjoy as much power as her without being held accountable.
Then who? The self proclaimed front runners are Pranab Mukherjee and P Chidambaram. Though Pranab Mukherjee would be the best choice, given his admirable political and governance skills, Sonia is wary of him and would definitely apply the veto. P Chidambaram would make for an articulate PM. But he has made far too many enemies within the Congress due to his, what they call, 'intellectually arrogant' behaviour. He doesn't suffer fools easily, and Congress is full of them. And he is pro-reforms. An image that Congress doesn't want to carry to the next elections. They want someone with socialistic credentials who will indulge in welfare economics, and the consequences be damned. PC wont play ball on this.
Though Digvijay Singh is trusted by both Sonia and Rahul, and trying his best to shore up the minority vote bank through his periodic trashing of the majority, he is viewed to be more useful in the party, and anyway is not as pliable as the mother and son want him to be.
That leaves only one candidate. The man who is highly trusted, personally loyal, is honest to a fault, is politically savyy, leads an austere life (even his worst enemies wont say he is corrupt) and has the experience of being the CM of a State. He will never be a threat to the first family and will vacate the seat readily if asked to do so anytime. The only drawback is that he is a Christian. Or maybe it is an advantage, as India never had a Christian PM or President for that matter. Despite being accused that both Sonia and him are christians, he might still get the nod. I am not saying it is the best for the country - it is not. But, in my opinion, the person most likely to be the next Prime Minister is from my home state of Kerala - Mr. A.K.Antony, the current Defence Minister.
