Rahul no 2 in the party: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday went on record to say that party general secretary Rahul Gandhi was “number 2” in the organisation, giving a clear indication that the Nehru-Gandhi family scion was set to be elevated to a much higher rank in the party ahead of the 2014 general elections.

"Something is due. It may happen when it is ready. Rahul Gandhi is number-2 in the party. His place is after the Congress President. It is not a hidden fact. There is no ambiguity about it. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that he (Gandhi) is the future leader.

There is no shying away from it," chief of the party’s media cell and general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters.

He was asked about the much speculated reshuffle in the party and talks about giving more responsibility to Gandhi.

“So far as the reshuffle of the party is concerned, I am not aware of a definite date and time. Only the Congress President knows the exact nature of the reshuffle,” Dwivedi said.
Talks of organizational changes within Congress has been doing the rounds, especially after a substantive reshuffle in the UPA government on Sunday.

Gandhi, who turned down Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s offer to join the cabinet, is tipped to be made working president or vice president of the party, according to sources.