No 'open' comments: Congress to its leaders

Amid simmering noises within the Congress over Rahul Gandhi's leadership, the party on Wednesday asked its senior leaders to refrain from making "open" comments that could potentially rake up "unnecessary controversy".

"Senior leaders should refrain from making open comments. They should not create unnecessary controversy as interested sections want to create confusion," party spokesperson P.C. Chacko told reporters in response to questions regarding former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit's comment on party vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Earlier, Shiela Dikshit was quoted as saying, "...(in case of) Rahul, of course, there is a question mark, there is skepticism because you have not seen him perform as yet."

However, the former Delhi chief minister later denied having made such comments.

Scotching speculations about differences between party president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi regarding party's leadership, Chacko maintained that there was "no conflict" between the two as their leadership was "totally acceptable" to all Congressmen.

"The entire Congress party is in full support of both the leaders. President and the vice president are two different positions in the party and they are discharging their duties very efficiently and all the people are happy," he added.

Meanwhile, former Punjab chief minister and MP Captain Amarinder Singh also reportedly suggested Sonia Gandhi to continue as party president because she was the only force that could keep the party together.

Singh's comments came a few days after, Congress leader and Sheila Dikshit's son Sandeep Dikshit also expressed similar opinion in an interview to a news channel.