File Photo: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi seen here with mother and Party President Sonia Gandhi
Congress leader Sheila Dikshit has denied that in an interview, she was scathing in her assessment of Rahul Gandhi. News agency PTI quoted Ms Dikshit, three-time Chief Minister of Delhi, as stating that, "There are question marks over Rahul Gandhi's leadership qualities; Sonia should continue to lead the Congress."
Mr Gandhi, 44, has been missing for weeks on what his party has awkwardly defended as a "leave of absence" which has been extended several times during a politically volatile season.
Ms Dikshit told NDTV that what she had said to PTI is that "Sonia Gandhi is a good president" and that Rahul Gandhi "would make a good prime minister."
"I did not name Rahul Gandhi in the interview at all," she said, adding that she had asked PTI to make corrections.
Mr Gandhi led the party's disastrous bid for power in last year's national election which culminated in the Congress' worst-ever result.
However, he is expected to replace his mother Sonia as Party chief at the next gathering of hundreds of workers and members, the date for which has not been fixed, partly because of his absence, according to sources.
Ms Dikshit's son, congress leader Sandeep, had suggested recently that the party will not benefit from Mrs Gandhi making way for her son for the top post.
Ms Dikshit today appeared to reject that as a note of dissent, stating that "the comfort level of working with Sonia Gandhi as president is very high."