Cong parries questions on possibility of PC as PM candidate

New Delhi: Congress today parried questions if it could project Finance Minister P Chidambaram as its Prime Ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha elections.

"When the time comes you will know who our PM candidate is. ....We are not in the habit of predicting or announcing our CM and PM candidates well before the issue arises", party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury told reporters in reply to a volley of questions.

Asked if it was so why Congress was not denying a report in the British newsmagazine 'The Economist' saying Chidambaram could be the PM candidate, especially if it comes to a face off against Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, she said that "in a democracy, nobody is ruled out. You will appreciate that".

In its latest issue, The Economist said Chidambaram's "growth-oriented" outlook can give the nation the much-needed push.

The magazine said Chidambaram has a good knowledge of economy and he is also a trustworthy aide of Congress President Sonia Gandhi. So, it's Finance Minister P Chidambaram and not Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi who is likely to be the party's Prime Ministerial candidate in the next general elections in 2014, it said.