Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said Sonia Gandhi should continue as party president irrespective of Thursday’s poll outcome in the five states.

Singh, a former Punjab chief minister and a sitting MP, also said that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi can step into Sonia’s shoes if she feels that time has come for her to go and that she is “tired” of being at the helm of the party since 1997.

Exit polls have projected  a loss for Congress in Assam and Kerala. “No, not at all,” Singh told NDTV when asked whether time has come for Rahul to take over as Congress President in the backdrop of suggestions in this regard with Sonia assuming the role of “Chairman Emeritus”. “I have worked very closely with Soniaji and I think she is a great leader,” he added. Singh, who returned as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president in November last, said Sonia believed in modern concept of management. Singh said any decision on elevating Rahul is for him and Sonia to take.

“She (Sonia) has been non-stop in this role since 1997 and she may be tired. May be she feels that time has come that she wants to go and that she is tired of handling this. And in this case the vice-president can take over,” he said.