Rahul Gandhi is Congress face for 2014

INDIA: In a clear message of the party's generational shift with 70 percent of voters below the age of 35, the Congress Saturday named Rahul Gandhi, 42, as vice president in the hope of reaping electoral dividends in the 2014 general elections.

However, the Congress for the time being. refrained from projecting Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate, ignoring the huge chorus from the party.

Party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said: “Whether Rahul will lead the party in 2014 general elections will be decided later.”

Rahul Gandhi heads the party's coordination panel for the 2014 polls.

The new post of vice president was re-created especially for Rahul Gandhi. The last vice president was Arjun Singh when Rahul's father Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister and party chief.

After the Congress Working Committee (CWC) passed a resolution unanimously elevating him as vice president, Rahul Gandhi expressed his gratitude to the leaders and thanked them.

“I am confident we can transform the Congress party,” he said. Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh termed the move a “game changer” and said Rahul Gandhi is the party's face for 2014. Highways Minister C.P. Joshi hailed the move as representing “new leadership for the new India”, while Youth Congress chief Rajeev Satav said it was a “historic day and would bring joy to the young friends of the party”.

“This will be remembered as the real Jaipur Declaration much over the formal document to be adopted by the All India Congress Committee on Jan 20,” quipped another minister. Much before Dwivedi announced the CWC decision, hundreds of elated Youth Congress members started celebrations outside the Birla auditorium, venue of the “Chintan Shivir” and also outside 10 Janpath, the residence of party chief Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi.

Party insiders said Rahul became the youngest vice president after Jitendra Prasada, who got the position at 50 plus age.Prasada's son Jitin is Minister of State for Human Resource Development and a member of Rahul's team.

- DECCAN HERALD