File photo: Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi at a Congress meet.
Sonia Gandhi today did not deny reports that her son Rahul, currently on a sabbatical, will be elevated as Congress president in April. "When it is decided, will let everyone know," she told reporters.
Amid a controversy over Rahul Gandhi's "leave of absence" for a part of the ongoing parliamentary session, top sources have told NDTV that the 44-year-old is set to take over as party chief at a leadership conclave in April.
Senior Congress leaders including Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath have endorsed Rahul's takeover of the 130-year-old party.
"I think that the time has come where Rahul Gandhi must be given the full responsibility. He must shoulder the responsibility and then it is up to him to succeed or fail," Kamal Nath told NDTV yesterday.
"There are many occasions when Mrs Gandhi thinks Rahul is doing something, Rahul thinks Mrs Gandhi is doing something and it falls between two stools. It must be left to Rahul Gandhi to make his team," he added.
News of Rahul Gandhi's promotion comes at a time the party is confronting criticism over his absence during the budget session.
Congress leaders have said that Mr Gandhi wanted time to think. They also clarified that he was "not quitting politics." He will be back by March 10, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala has said.
Rahul Gandhi, the fourth generation of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, was appointed Congress vice president in Jaipur in 2013, but he has had a disappointing run, leading the party to a series of poll debacles including its worst drubbing in a national election last year.
There was speculation that Mr Gandhi took time off as he was frustrated at not being able to bring major changes in the party and replace the "old guard" that has advised his mother.