Cong nuances its stand on Rahul's leadership

"I think party spokesperson P C Chacko has already clarified...Sonia Gandhi is our leader and President of the Congress Party. She will continue to be President.

"We are going to fight the 2014 elections under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi", party spokesman Rashid Alvi said here today.

The remarks are significant as Chacko had said yesterday that Rahul Gandhi will lead UPA's campaign in the 2014 elections and take up an "important responsibility " in the party "very soon".

To a query on what will be the role of Sonia Gandhi after Rahul takes up a party position, Chacko had said "she is the President now. She will be the patron. She will be the supreme leader of the party".

Earlier in the day, Chacko clarified that the role of Rahul Gandhi in the next Lok Sabha elections will be decided by the Congress general secretary and Sonia Gandhi at an appropriate time.

The AICC spokesman said "I did not mean any decision has been taken in this regard when I said Rahul Gandhi will be leading the next election campaign."

He said he had made the remarks in response to questions by mediapersons and these "should not be interpreted as any decision having been taken".