Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Adding credence to reports that Rahul Gandhi would move up the ladder in the Congress, Digvijay Singh on Monday said that the Gandhi scion is ready to take over as working president of the party.
Singh said that Rahul is ready for working president responsibility but it is for the Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul himself to decide on the matter.
The timing of Digvijay Singh’s assertion is important as it comes on a day when Rahul Gandhi is kick-starting his party’s ‘Mission 2012’ to bring back the grand old party to power after 22 years in the state.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also welcomed the move to give bigger responsibnility to Rahul.
“It is a party matter. I cannot talk about the party. If Rahul Gandhi assumes any responsibility, I will welcome it," Singh said when asked whether Gandhi was going to assume the post of working president of Congress.
He also said that he had requested Rahul Gandhi on a number of occasions to join the Cabinet but he had not accepted it.
Rahul Gandhi, 41, who was appointed party general secretary in September 2007 with the charge of the student and youth wings - the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the Youth Congress - has worked hard to promote the youth into leadership positions in the party and legislatures.
During the past four years, he travelled to colleges and universities across the country to urge students and youth to enter public life and join developmental activities.
Although voices have been raised in the past too demanding that he takes over as the party chief but he had remained noncommittal on it owing to his focus on building the party from the grassroots, especially among the youth.
However, following Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s recent illness, his elevation in the party was being talked about as a certainty that was to happen sooner than later.
The Youth Congress will hold a national meet here Nov 24-25 under Rahul Gandhi. As per reports, he may give up charge of the organisation soon after to move on to a larger role in the Congress.
