There are growing voices favouring a larger role for Rahul Gandhi in the Congress party in the run up to the 2014 elections.

Even as senior Congress leaders on Friday sought to dismiss rumours about the possibility of Rahul Gandhi being made the party's Prime Ministerial candidate, Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor sparked fresh debate on Saturday with a statement. 

Speaking to CNN-IBN, Tharoor said, "We will be in very capable hands if Rahul Gandhi takes over."

Reacting quickly, party spokesperson Digvijaya Singh said that Rahul should not "pressurised". 

"The Congress never announces its PM candidate. So let's not get into this. Let Rahul chalk his own course. Don't pressurise him," he said.