Debate over two power centres useless: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday said the debate over two power centres was "useless" and did not rule out a third term at the helm if his Congress-led United Progressive Alliance came to power in the next election.

"This is the creation of the media. It is a useless debate," the prime minister told reporters when asked about the issue that was raised by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. The Congress has dismissed Digvijaya's contentions.

He was speaking at Rashtrapati Bhavan after the Padma awards function.

Asked whether he would accept the third term as prime minister, he said: "It is a hypothetical question... We are yet to complete this term."

"I am not ruling it in, I am not ruling it out," he said when questioned further on whether he was ruling himself out.

Asked whether he would welcome Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as prime minister, he said: "Oh yes, any day."

He also described as "excellent" Gandhi's speech at a CII meet Thursday.

Gandhi, 42, had dismissed as "irrelevant" a question on his becoming prime minister. - IANS