PM to persuade Rahul to join Cabinet

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi has not agreed to join the Union Cabinet so far, but Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday that he has not given up hope of persuading the young leader to do so.

"So far he (Rahul) has not agreed but I have not given up hope," Singh told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony.

However, when asked why he was not joining the ministry, Rahul said, "Elections come and go but I would continue working for the party. I hope to give good place to the youth in politics."

On the induction of the young faces from so called "Rahul Brigade", the AICC General Secretary said, "You will see that in a few days and nobody can neglect the youth."

The ministry expansion is expected to take place on Tuesday and many young leaders are likely to figure in the exercise.

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Making it very clear that it was up to Rahul to take the call on his future course of action in politics, his mother and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said, "It is for Rahul to take a decision. I have taken my own decision. My mother-in-law took her own decision."

She was responding to a question on whether Rahul will join the ministry.

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Singh has been publicly maintaining that he was keen on having Rahul in his ministerial team but the young Gandhi has been reluctant to take up a position in the cabinet and voiced preference for party work.