So, the big takeaways from the PM's speech are that he will not be contesting the polls, Rahul Gandhi has excellent credentials for a PM candidate, Narendra Modi will be disastrous as PM.

In fact the PM ended the 75-minute long presser, with one more barb at Narendra Modi. Asked whether he believes that Modi will become prime minister on the back of a huge wave of support for him, the prime minister says, "I sincerely believe that what Mr Narendra Modi is saying is not going to materialise. "