Priyanka Gandhi as Cong president will be a 'unifying force': Karan Singh

Amid growing voices calling for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to lead the Congress following Rahul Gandhi's resignation, veteran leader Karan Singh has said she will be a "unifying force" and will enthuse cadres if she takes on the mantle of party president.

He also said the Congress has "definitely been harmed" due to the indecision over the leadership issue and cautioned that remaining "headless" can be "seriously detrimental" to the party going forward.

In an interview to PTI, Singh agreed with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor's views aired recently that a young leader will be more suitable as a replacement of Rahul Gandhi.

"Baffled" over the "state of indecision" in the party, Singh on Saturday said there are some very senior people in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and they should have come together earlier and done something about the situation arising out of Rahul Gandhi's resignation.

"One cannot leave the party headless. It is not fair to the Congress," said Singh, a close associate of the Gandhi family who has been in the party for over 50 years.

Meanwhile, the party announced on Sunday that the CWC will meet on August 10. The party had said earlier that the CWC will meet after the Parliament session ends next Wednesday.

Asked about growing voices within the Congress calling for Priyanka Gandhi to take over as party chief, Karan Singh said it has to be her decision and if she agrees to take up the responsibility, he will welcome it.

She has to take a decision and can't be bulldozed into taking up the party presidency, the 88-year-old leader said.

Asked if Priyanka Gandhi would be a suitable candidate for Congress president, Singh said, "Considering the situation and considering that she belongs to this family, she will probably be a unifying force."