'Congress expects Rahul to take over as party chief this year'

May 02, 2016 21:18

The Congress expects Rahul Gandhi to take over as its chief this year, the party said on Monday, virtually dismissing reports that he would be projected as the chief ministerial candidate in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in 2017.

"Rahul Gandhi is MP from Amethi and vice president of the Congress. We all expect him to be the President of the Congress in 2016," party leader Jairam Ramesh said at the All India Congress Committee briefing, when asked about reports that the party's poll strategist Prashant Kishor has suggested that Rahul should be projected as the chief ministerial candidate.

According to reports, Kishor is learnt to be in favour of either Priyanka Gandhi Vadra or Rahul taking the lead in the state election as the chief ministerial candidate.

On the possibility of Priyanka as the chief ministerial candidate, Ramesh said, "I have no knowledge".

According to reports, Kishor feels that the Congress can come back to power in 2019 in the Hindi heartland by projecting the Congress vice president and if people start believing that he can lead them to victory in an election.

At the same time, the report also said if Rahul does not give his consent then Priyanka's name should be propped in Uttar Pradesh. And if both turn down the offer, then Kishor may suggest former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's name.

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