It's upto Rahul to take a call, says Sonia

Amid growing clamour for a larger role for Rahul Gandhi and talks of young leader assuming number-two position in the party, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said on Wednesday that it is for AICC general secretary to decide on the issue.

“No one can take a decision on his behalf. He has to take a decision,” Congress chief said in Parliament House after Vice President Hamid Ansari filed his nomination paper for a second term.

Sonia Gandhi’s comments have come at a time when there are talks of Rahul being made Vice President of the party in the wake of demands coming from within Congress for 42-year-old leader to assume bigger responsibilities. Congress general secretary Dingvijay Singh on Wednesday expressed confidence that Rahul will lead the party at an “appropriate time.”

“Certainly, I am quite confident that Rahul Gandhi has all the potential and ability to not only perform but also to lead the party at an appropriate time,” Singh, considered a political mentor of Rahul said while replying to a question whether projecting Gandhi scion as next Prime Ministerial candidate could help better Congress fortunes. Earlier, on Monday, Singh had hinted that party’s young face will take up more pro-active role after the Presidential election which is scheduled to be held on June 19.