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When award-winning film-maker Sanjib Sabhapandit called him the ‘‘future prime minister’’ before an informal gathering h...

When award-winning film-maker Sanjib Sabhapandit called him the ‘‘future prime minister’’ before an informal gathering here, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was a little embarrassed. Before anything else, Rahul clarified, he wanted to visit ‘‘every nook and corner’’ of the country over the next couple of years. And no, the Congress did not figure in his state trip.

‘‘Though this region has been always dear to my family, I personally know very little about the North-East,’’ he told the intelligentsia as they shot questions.

At the ‘‘interaction-cum-dinner’’ hosted by eminent economist Dr Jayanta Madhab, the MP exchanged views on subjects ranging from the Partition, FDI in the North-East, unemployment and, of course, infiltration along the border with Bangladesh.

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Originally scheduled as a 10-day trip of the entire North-East, Rahul looped in a three-day tour of Guwahati and Shillong. However, Rahul kept away from Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and PCC chief Bhubaneswar Kalita. ‘‘I have not come to attend any party meeting. I want to meet cross-sections of the people,’’ said Rahul, leaving behind PCC chief Kalita and state Transport Minister Anjan Dutta in the arrival lounge. He drove straight to IIT, Guwahati, and spent two hours there with the students before having lunch with them.

He also visited the North-East Development Finance Corporation where Madhab made a presentation. Late in the night, he dropped in at the Don Bosco Institute which will be formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on November 22.