With the organisational polls underway in Congress, party general secretary Digvijay Singh today said he was of "firm" opinion that Rahul Gandhi should become party President.
"I have been saying for a long time and even today I maintain my words. I am firm that Rahul Gandhi has handled the responsibility of Vice President and my request to Congress leadership and Sonia Gandhiji is that he should be given the responsibility of the AICC," he said while replying to whether he thinks it was time Rahul Gandhi should take up the leadership responsibility in the party and become Congress President.
His remarks have come at a time when organisational polls were underway that would culminate in the election of a new President for Congress in August-September while an AICC meeting is likely to take place as early as March this year.
Singh had two months back also said that Rahul should take over the leadership of Congress. Reminding that Congress had always encouraged a young leadership, he had then also pointed out that while Jawaharlal Nehru became AICC president at the age of 38 years. Maulana Azad had done so at an age of 35 years.
Rahul Gandhi is 44. Sonia Gandhi (68) is the longest serving party chief being at the helm since March 1998.
Rahul Gandhi had last month held a meeting with party general secretaries asking them to get feedback from the grassroot on revival plan of Congress.
Soon after Congress President Sonia Gandhi had written to them as well PCC chiefs to complete the exercise submit a report to her by February end. While Sonia Gandhi is the party chief, Rahul's activities in the parent party have grown manifold since be came the Vice President of Congress in January 2013.
These suggestions will be compiled in a book and will be taken up for discussion and approval at a meeting of the AICC, which is likely to be held in March this year.
