CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby has triggered fresh discussion over the Opposition’s possible prime ministerial face for 2029 after saying Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of the Opposition, has the right to stake a claim to the top post.
Baby, speaking in Delhi, however, stopped short of declaring Rahul Gandhi as the CPI(M)’s choice. He said the question of who should become prime minister would have to be settled after the general election and that speculation at this stage would serve little purpose.
Asked specifically about Rahul Gandhi’s prospects, Baby said, “Naturally, the Leader of the Opposition has the right [to aspire to the position. But we do not want to engage in an exercise of hypothesising.”
He added that the larger objective for the Opposition
should be to defeat the BJP-led government. “Our goal is that the fascist regime of the BJP/RSS should be removed from power. Last time we came close to it; if we had been more careful, this could have happened in the last election. We should not miss our chance now,” Baby said, according to The Hindu.
Baby’s remarks come at a time when the Opposition camp is witnessing a parallel debate over the 2029 leadership question, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
Several leaders associated with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) have been projecting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay as a potential national leader. TVK legislators have publicly backed the idea of Vijay being considered for the Prime Minister’s post in 2029.
At the same time, Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu have repeatedly maintained that Rahul Gandhi remains their choice for the 2029 Lok Sabha election. Tamil Nadu minister P Viswanathan has described Gandhi as the INDIA bloc’s “definitive” prime ministerial candidate, while Congress minister S Rajesh Kumar has also said Rahul would be the party’s PM candidate in 2029.
The issue has also produced differences within the broader alliance. MDMK chief Vaiko, an ally of Vijay’s government, has backed Rahul Gandhi’s candidature while saying Vijay himself has no intention of becoming Prime Minister.
