Rahul Gandhi is Congress no 2, will be
party's face in 2014
Saturday January 19, 2013 09:44:21 PM,
IANS
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Jaipur: Rahul Gandhi
was Saturday named the Congress vice president, making him
officially the number two in the party after his mother and
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Congress spokesperson Janardan Dwivedi told reporters that the
decision to elevate Rahul Gandhi was taken by the Congress Working
Committee, the party's highest decision making body, at the 'Chintan
Shivir' at the Birla auditorium here.
"With his appointment as vice president of the Congress party
today, Rahul Gandhi has been elevated to number two position in
the party," Dwivedi told reporters, amid scenes of wild jubilation
by Congress workers and supporters.
The supporters also demanded that Rahul Gandhi be named the
Congress' prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha
elections. Rahul Gandhi heads the coordination panel for the
elections.
"This decision will greatly strengthen the party and the hands of
the Congress president," Dwivedi said.
Rahul Gandhi's name was proposed by Defence Minister A.K. Antony
and seconded by Dwivedi. Congress president Sonia Gandhi nodded in
assent.
"The whole working committee appreciated the proposal with
clapping on the tables and after their support the Congress
president gave a nod and Rahul Gandhi accepted the post," said
Dwivedi.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the first to offer Rahul Gandhi
a bouquet. Thereafter, a host of leaders lined up to offer him
boquets and garland him.
"The party has reposed its confidence in its most effective and
accepted young leader, reflecting the strong feelings of the
millions of Congress workers," Dwivedi said.
"Any election or campaign-related decision will be taken at a
later stage," he added.
Rahul Gandhi's role in the coming elections will be decided by the
party later, he added.
As soon as the announcement was made, supporters cheered and
danced to drum beats, waving posters of Rahul Gandhi. The city sky
scape was lit up with sparkling pyrotechnic fireworks.
Congress leaders, especially Rahul Gandhi's young brigade,
wholeheartedly welcomed the move.
"He will try and live up to the expectations of a new India," said
Minister of State for Human Resource Development Jitin Prasada.
Terming Rahul Gandhi's new post as a "game changer" for the
Congress, Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh said he has
"brought about new thinking in the party" and his appointment
reflects the demographics of a young India.
Asked whether Rahul Gandhi would be pitted against Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, Singh said the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) had not as yet decided on its prime ministerial
candidate. Modi is being touted as the BJP's frontrunner for the
top post.
However, he added that Rahul Gandhi would "definitely be the face
of the Congress" in 2014 and the party would choose its prime
minister after coming to power.
"When he is the face of the Congress party, when we come back to
power in UPA-III we will support him (as PM)."
Party spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit said Rahul Gandhi will be the
"chief campaigner" for the elections, but the "high command" will
take a final decision on his prime ministerial candidature.
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