New Delhi: In a bid to revive party's fortunes after its debacle in Assembly polls conducted in four out of five major states, Congress is expected to declare Rahul Gandhi, who is currently serving as its vice president, its prime ministerial candidate ahead of 2014 General Elections.
According to reports, a formal announcement in this regard is likely to be made during the AICC meeting scheduled on January 17.
Sources claim that the decision to declare Rahul Gandhi as party's PM candidate and end suspense on the issue has possibly been taken keeping in view BJP's stunning victory in major states where Assembly polls were held recently.
Though it is a debatable issue, the main opposition party has given credit to its PM candidate Narendra Modi for its thumping victory in these elections.
There has been a long standing demand to declare Rahul Gandhi as Congress' PM candidate and the clamour grew louder after Sonia Gandhi said the party would take a decision in this regard at an opportune time.
A section of Congress leaders believe that naming Rahul Gandhi as PM candidate could revive party's fortunes in the coming polls.
AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh said the party should ensure that Rahul is declared the PM candidate. Union Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was the chairman of the campaign committee in Madhya Pradesh polls, made the demand immediately after the Congress was routed in Assembly elections in four states on Sunday.
The call for Rahul to be named as the replacement for Manmohan Singh in UPA-3 contrasts with the earlier assessment that a bad performance in the December Assembly polls would discourage Congress from naming a rival to Narendra Modi, who is the BJP's PM candidate.
Congress to declare Rahul Gandhi as PM candidate on Jan 17: Sources
