NDA's defeat in Bihar polls will pose no threat to Modi govt: Digvijay Singh

Singh added that people are realising their mistake of having elected the Modi govt

NDA's defeat in the Bihar assembly polls will have some impact on the Centre but that would pose no threat to the Narendra Modi government which has been elected for five years, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh has said.

"I don't think there is a challenge to the NDA Government ...If they do not do well, they will certainly be questioned," he said.

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The Congress general secretary, however, said "people were now realising their mistake" of having elected the Modi government under whose watch "forces of intolerance" were "on the rise".

He said even though the Congress had called for unity secular forces for "tangible action" against those spreading hatred, one could not say "just now" if and when UPA III could be formed.

"Now people are realising their mistake....Whatever we have gained in the UPA regime, we are losing in Modi regime... You cannot say about UPA III just now," he told PTI.

Amid talks that Rahul Gandhi could take over as Congress chief sooner than later, Singh said he cannot predict the timing of his elevation. He, however, dismissed suggestions that Rahul's elevation would see seniors being dispatched to the "Margdarshak Mandal" like in the BJP.

"The issue of elevation of Rahul Gandhi has to be decided by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the Congress Working Committee. This is something Digvijay Singh cannot predict," he said when asked about the talk that he could take over by March next year.

He said the grassroots Congress workers wanted the elevation to happen soon.

"Yes, this is the common feeling among grassroots workers but when this decision can be taken only the Congress President can say," he said.

Referring to senior party leader Jairam Ramesh's comments that leaders above 60 years of age would only be in an advisory role after Rahul takes over, Singh said,"Why should we borrow the idea of Margdarshak Mandal from the BJP."