Now, Cong says Sonia, Rahul to jointly lead 2014 campaign

A day after the Congress declared Rahul Gandhi as the lead campaigner for the 2014 elections and indicated that party president Sonia Gandhi's involvement in organisational affairs would be scaled down, the party on Tuesday clarified that it will contest the next parliamentary elections under the leadership of both Sonia and Rahul.

"I think party spokesman 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," said AICC spokesman Rashid Alvi.

Chacko had stated at a press briefing on Monday that Rahul would lead the UPA's campaign in 2014 elections and Sonia would be the "patron" and "supreme leader" of the party — a comment that was interpreted as scaling down of her involvement in organisational affairs.

"I did not mean any decision has been taken in this regard when I said Rahul will be leading the next election campaign," Chacko clarified Tuesday. He said his remarks shouldn't be interpreted as a "decision having been taken".

Tuesday's clarification, said sources, was meant to clear any confusion about Sonia's role in the party once Rahul is given a bigger organisational responsibility. Sources said Rahul's formal elevation as No 2 in the party hierarchy would not lead to any dilution of Sonia's involvement in party affairs and she would continue to play an "active and decisive" role as party president.

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