New Delhi, April 15: In a stern signal that the Rahul-as-PM chant from within the Congress — and from allies, too — could end up undermining the authority of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Congress leadership today quickly stepped in to say there is “no vacancy for the post of Prime Minister.” And that both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul have “kept away from any environment of sycophancy.”

These remarks came from AICC spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan general secretary the day after HRD Minister Arjun Singh — basking in the glow of his OBC quota victory — said he has “always believed” in Rahul Gandhi as the party’s choice for the Prime Minister’s job. And barely hours after External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee endorsed this view.

Said Natarajan: “We would like to put an end to all speculation. There is no vacancy for the post of Prime Minister.” Paying compliments to the PM and his team for their performance, Natarajan added: “The AICC would like to put an end to all speculation. It is not appropriate to spread political speculation in this way. Congress President Soniaji and General Secretary Rahulji have always kept away from any environment of sycophancy.”

It was the rising Rahul chorus that forced the high command to deliver this message. Later in the evening, Sonia Gandhi called Arjun Singh at her residence. Although the official agenda was his proposed visit to launch a Central university in Amarkantak — named after Indira Gandhi and meant to serve the predominantly tribal population of the area — sources said his Rahul remarks came up for discussion.

Emerging from the meeting, the HRD Minister said: “What’s the harm in what I said about Rahul Gandhi? I really don’t take back my words. I have said nothing against the Prime Minister. I am a member of his Cabinet. I follow conventions and I will continue to follow conventions as a member of the Cabinet.”

Asked whether the Congress President was upset over his remarks, he shot back, “I don’t know who is upset.” Asked about the AICC statement about sycophancy, he said, “I don’t read any meaning in this.”

The Congress leadership was apparently alarmed by the developments as Arjun Singh’s remarks were reminiscent of the early 1990s when he, as HRD Minister in the P V Narasimha Rao Cabinet, had launched a campaign against Rao, especially on the new economic policy piloted by then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh.

While Arjun Singh’s attack found some resonance in the party divided between Rao loyalists and Nehru-Gandhi family loyalists, equations have changed since then.

In a visible bid to rally support to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the AICC spokesperson today complimented him and his team for putting in a “magnificent record of performance-oriented achievement” and welfare measures for the benefit of the most disadvantaged sections of society.

The party’s remarks came after Mukherjee said that Singh was “perfectly entitled” to give his views. “Everywhere new leadership is coming. If he (Arjun Singh) has suggested it, there should be no controversy,” said Mukherjee adding, “Always, leadership goes to younger people. It is a universal truth.”