The big churning in the Congress has begun. Congress’ prince’ Rahul Gandhi on Thursday announced that he is ready to play a more active role in the party and the government.
Speaking to the media in Parliament after he cast his vote in the Presidential poll, Rahul said, “I will play more proactive role in the party and the government. The decision has been taken, the timing is up to the leadership.”
This is the first time that Rahul Gandhi has spoken about the possibility of joining the government or taking up a bigger role in the Congress, led by his mother Sonia Gandhi.
His comments came a day after the Congress president said it was up to her son to decide on taking up a bigger role.
Sources told Zee News, a clear roadmap has been prepared by Sonia Gandhi for Rahul Gandhi and what remains now is just the formal announcement of the same.
It is believed that a major reshuffle of the UPA cabinet will be carried out before the Monsoon Session of Parliament on August 8.
Going by his areas of interests, Rahul may take charge of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj or HRD Ministry, reports said.
On the party front, he may take over as working president of the party or vice-president. Currently, he is in-charge of Youth Congress and NSUI.
Congress leaders have been urging Rahul Gandhi to move to the party’s mainstream amid growing clamour for projecting him as prime ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha polls, likely in 2014.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had himself urged Rahul, a number of times, to join the government.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh, one of the vociferous proponents of Rahul Gandhi taking up the top job, had recently expressed confidence that he would lead the party at “an appropriate time”.
The voices for Rahul Gandhi’s bigger role grew louder after Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid in a newspaper interview said the ruling party was yet to get any ideological direction from him.
External Affairs Minister SM Krishnahad also suggested that Rahul Gandhi should join the government as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had already invited him and that invitation still stands.
—–PTI—–