Speaking about the state of affairs within the party, Tewari said that the meeting of the coordination committee of the Punjab Congress held in New Delhi on January 5 underlined the need for unity within the ranks. He said all senior leaders from the state were unanimous in their resolve that the party would fight the elections united.

The AICC spokesperson also claimed that the Congress was in an ‘enviable’ position in the state given the response the party meetings have been receiving. Moreover, he remarked, the overall failure of the SAD-BJP government had disillusioned people and they were waiting for an opportunity to change the administration.

To a question about Rahul Gandhi being the next prime ministerial candidate, Tewari remarked that Gandhi was perfectly suited for the job. He pointed out, “If Omar Abdullah can become the chief minister of an all important state like Jammu and Kashmir at the age of 38, if Rajiv Gandhi could become the prime minister at the age of 40, then why can’t Rahul Gandhi become the prime minister at his age.”

However, he added, the Congress would fight the forthcoming elections under the leadership of party president, Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Answering queries regarding a news report that appeared in a vernacular daily that he was thinking of contesting from Karnal, Tewari remarked, “It is ridiculous. Though it is the prerogative of the party president to nominate the candidates for elections, I would like to contest from Ludhiana as it is my karm bhoomi where I have been working hard for the last so many years.”