Graduating from his practised refrain during earlier election campaigns that he was still to learn the ropes, Rahul Gandhi today minced no words to say he was willing to take charge of the Congress in the 2007 UP Assembly polls if given the responsibility.

Responding to media questions during his campaign for mother Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareli, Rahul said: “If my party leaders request me to lead the campaign (during the UP Assembly elections), I will do so.”

This statement may not have electrified the Congress rank and file since Rahul has said similar things earlier too, everytime in response to the media, but it has certainly aroused expectation.

Akhilesh Pratap Singh, UP Congress spokesman, said, “If he takes charge, it will boost the morale of the party leaders and workers alike.” He admitted there might be several factions in the UP Congress, one of the main reasons for the party being reduced to 16 MLAs in a

House of 403, but “all factions will unite under one umbrella” if Rahul takes over.

On what he thought were the real issues for the Congress, Rahul said: “Bijli, sadak, paani, are the real issues for which we campaign”. Asked if he thought the Mulayam government didn’t cooperate in development works in Rae Bareli, Rahul said there was no point harping on it.

“I have written three letters about it, there is no point now. We are doing whatever best we can from Central schemes. People do understand all this.”

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