New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is ready to be Prime Minister, if his chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev wins the Presidential election in March.
Medvedev was officially confirmed as the presidential candidate of the United Russia party on Monday.
Speaking at the Congress of the ruling party, Putin backed the formal nomination of 42-year-old Medvedyev as the presidential candidate and said he would be willing to continue the "common cause" with him "in new capacity" after stepping down in May.
Medvedev is also chairman of the state energy giant Gazprom and he has asked Putin to serve as prime minister if he is elected leader. Putin and his party enjoy huge popular support in Russia. They swept parliamentary elections earlier this month.
Putin, however, ruled out the transfer of presidential powers to him as prime minister. Putin, who has served two four-year consecutive terms, is not eligible to seek re-election for the third time and earlier last week approved Medvedev as his successor. Under Russia's constitution, Putin must step down as president at the end of his current term.
With Agency inputs
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