Rahul Gandhi would lead Congress at appropriate time: Digvijay Singh

NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of growing clamour in the party for projecting Rahul Gandhi as a Prime Ministerial candidate in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh today expressed confidence that he would lead the party at "an appropriate time".

"Certainly, I am quite confident that Rahul Gandhi has all the potential and ability to not only perform but also to lead the party at an appropriate time," he said.

He was replying to a question on whether projecting Gandhi as the next Prime Ministerial candidate of the party could help better Congress fortunes.

Singh, however, said this is an issue on which the party has to decide.

"I can't say anything on it," he said when asked whether Congress should project Gandhi as its next Prime Minister.

Singh said the Congress will be led by party President Sonia Gandhi in the 2014 elections.

"There is no doubt about it.We are working as a team in which Rahul will be an important part," he said when asked about the leadership role in Congress in 2014.

Singh, who had been seeking a larger role for Gandhi, made it clear that the larger role does not mean presidentship of the party.

Asked what responsibility Rahul Gandhi could take, he said "this is to be decided by the Congress President".

"He (Rahul) has been confining himself to student politics and youth politics. He should come to the mainstream of Congress party," Singh said.

"The majority of Congress workers want Rahul to play a far greater role in mainstream of Congress politics rather than confining himself to students and youth Congress," Singh said when asked what expectations people have in the party from Rahul Gandhi.