We want Rahul Gandhi to be PM: HD Deve Gowda

Speaking to Hindustan Times, the 86-year-old the Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch said: "Rahul Gandhi is a young, upcoming leader. He was made president of the Congress a year back. From then, I have seen the quantum of experience he has gained, but there is room for improvement. As a coalition partner, here I have no hesitation in extending my support. We want Rahul to be PM."

However, when asked about Rahul's attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi with comments such as "Chowkidaar chor hai", he said: "That is not proper. Any language that hurts the office of the prime minister - nobody should use such language. My humble opinion is that he is the prime minister of the country and not of any political party."

Deve Gowda said he was impressed with Narendra Modi's publicity machinery.

"No prime minister in this country has spent so much money on publicity. I don’t think it was his personal money, corporates and some interested people [funded it]. His first speech was on “bhrashtata-mukt bharat” [corruption-free India]. Was he able to achieve this?"

Talking about the current Union government's achievements, he said: "He has announced several programmes, but have they percolated to the common man? Make in India, Digital India, Skill India - so many programmes. I am not going to say they are all bad; but there is a vast difference in the quantum of publicity and the quantum of real ground-level benefit."

Deve Gowda agreed the reservation for upper castes was the BJP's desperation showing. "Till the last minute, not even an additional agenda was brought, but they introduced the bill. Everybody was scared, why?" he questioned.