Cong stand on two power centres shows PM is 'powerless': BJP

Party lauds Digvijay Singh for saying that two power centre model of Congress has not worked and is not likely to be continued in future

Differing stands in the Congress on two power centres today gave BJP a handle to hit out at Manmohan Singh, saying this proves its charge that he was a "powerless" Prime Minister.

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh, often at the receiving end of many scathing attacks from the main Opposition for his remarks, was lauded by the BJP for saying the two power centre model of Congress has not worked and is not likely to be continued in future.

"Digvijay Singh has tried to clear the misconception in the country. He has said what the BJP, the intellectuals and experts have been saying for a long time- that there are two power centres in this government. Singh has himself confirmed this now," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters.

Singh's statement was, however, refuted by another Congress General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi who said Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi make an ideal team.

"Such an arrangement creates a situation of indecisiveness. Sonia Gandhi did not give up power but instead became another centre of power," Hussain said.

The BJP said that Manmohan Singh gets all the blame while Sonia Gandhi has no accountability. "She has the power but no responsibility while the Prime Minister has to accept the mistakes. This leads to the PM being called powerless, a puppet and an underachiever," the BJP spokesperson said.

The party maintained that the Prime Minister should be "powerful and should hold the reins of power".

Asked why the party was taking Singh's remarks so seriously when it has been dismissive about his earlier comments, the BJP MP said if he has now stated the "right thing" it should be accepted.