Nitish Kumar is secular, have always sought support from right-minded people: PM

Zee Media Bureau New Delhi: Speaking after the swearing-in-ceremony of eight new ministers in his Cabinet, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday that the UPA will have a third term. “I have always believed that we will have a third go as UPA,” the PM said, adding, “The people will repose faith in us.” The Union Cabinet saw an induction of eight new ministers today. The reshuffle comes a day after Congress effected a major organisational change that seemingly had party vice president Rahul Gandhi`s stamp on it. Meanwhile, reaching out to Nitish Kumar, the PM said that the Bihar Chief Minister was ‘secular’ and that the Congress party always sought support from ‘right-minded’ people. "I cannot speculate on that or what happens in the future. We need support of all right-minded parties. In parliament, we look for their support," Singh said when asked whether Congress would seek JD(U)`s support. "In politics there are no permanent friends or enemies. We will decide as situation evolves," he added. The JD(U) split from the BJP yesterday, its ally of seventeen years, over the elevation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as his party’s poll panel chief for 2014 polls. On Rahul Gandhi, the PM said, "I will be very happy to see him step into my shoes." "Rahul Gandhi is a natural leader of the Congress. I hope he will lead the UPA. I always believe Rahul is fit enough and has the right qualities of a leader," Singh told journalists at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. However, the PM brushed aside a query on whether Gujarat CM Narendra Modi posed a challenge in any way. "Modi is no threat. People of India know what he stands for. People of India have to draw their own conclusion what they stand for," Singh said.