India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, has said he would step aside after 10 years in office, paving the way for Rahul Gandhi to take the reins if his party stays in power following this year's scheduled elections.
In only his third news conference in a decade, Singh said that Gandhi – the 43-year-old heir to India's Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty – has the best credentials to become the next head of Congress and prime minister. Singh is 81 and was not expected to seek another term.
"I have ruled myself out as a prime ministerial candidate," Singh said. "Rahul Gandhi has outstanding credentials … I do hope the party will take the right decision at the appropriate time."
More on: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/03/india-manmohan-singh-rahul-gandhi-modi
