Digvijay stands firm on remarks on two power centres

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Wednesday remained firm on his views that the experiment of "two power centres" has not worked well, notwithstanding the party rejecting his stand saying this is an "ideal model" not only at present but even for the future.

Singh, who is known for making remarks not always in sync with the official line, however, said that since the views of the party were "supreme" for him, he would abide by that.

"Whatever I have said is on record and, therefore, I stand by it. But the views of the Congress spokesperson and Congress party are supreme for me. So I would abide by that," he told reporters here a day after the party's media department in-charge and General Secretary Janardan Dviwedi rubbished his earlier remarks on two power centres.

"The relationship which has existed between Sonia Gandhi as the party president and Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister is something, which is not usually seen everywhere and is unique. I think, for any democracy, this is an ideal model even for the future," Dwivedi had said.

Digvijay Singh had recently dubbed the experiment of two power centres in UPA as a failure and suggested that Rahul should not opt to nominate a Prime Minister if the party gets a majority in the next Lok Sabha polls.

"Personally, I feel this model hasn't worked very well. Because, I personally feel there should not be two power centres and I think whoever is the PM must have the authority to function," Singh had said.

On the issue of Rahul Gandhi's prime ministerial candidature, Dwivedi had indicated that the party has kept its options open, saying, "Rahul Gandhi has been made Congress vice president. Since he has been given the responsibility of the organisation, hence strengthening the party and the organisation is his priority.

 "What happens thereafter is decided by the party. Today Manmohan Singh is the prime minister and this arrangement is working well," he had said.