Manmohan will lead LS battle for UPA: Spokesman

Seeking to dismiss suggestions that the UPA has more than one prime ministerial candidate, the Congress on Wednesday said that prime minister Manmohan Singh will lead the battle of the coalition in the next Lok Sabha elections.

"Manmohan Singh is the prime ministerial candidate of the UPA and will lead the battle of the UPA in the elections... The natural consequences will follow (his becoming the next PM)," party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters here.

"The PM has led the country like a marg darshak (torch bearer), be it economy, diplomacy and other parameters of governance...," the Congress leader said, adding "elections will be held in the next two months and the people of the country will endorse it (the fact)".

The spokesman was asked about Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi's statement that his party would not be averse to NCP chief Sharad Pawar for the top job if the situation so warrants after the elections.

Reacting to the statement of BJP leader Arun Jaitley that Singh was like a "night watchman" of the party, Tewari shot back, saying he (Jaitley) is also the president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association and talks in cricketing terminology.