Clamour Grows for Larger Role in Congress for Rahul

They said that he was also not likely to join the government, but could be made a member of the core committee where all important decisions are taken and could also be given charge of some states.

The core group of the party includes Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Patel. Pranab Mukherjee was a member till he was chosen to be the presidential poll candidate.

Digvijay Singh disgreed with criticism that Rahul Gandhi's campaign had failed to change the party's fortunes in the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

He said there was no such thing as "Rahul factor", adding that it was the duty of state Congress leadership to convert support mobilised by Rahul Gandhi into votes.

He stressed there is general feeling among party workers and middle rung leaders that Rahul Gandhi should play a bigger role.

Congress spokesman Manish Tewari also said that there was growing demand for a bigger role for Rahul Gandhi.

"Since 2004, the party or the activists and leaders have been articulating that Rahul Gandhi should assume a larger role either in the party or government. But essentially that is a decision he has to take or Congress president has to take," he said.

A section of party is also pitching for projecting prime ministerial candidate in 2014 and Rahul Gandhi is seen as the prime contender.

"I feel that a prime ministerial candidate should be projected in the present conditions. We had projected a prime ministerial candidate in 2009," said a party leader.

The leader agreed that Rahul Gandhi was poised for a bigger role.

Law Minister Salman Khurshid told a newspaper last week that the party had seen just "cameos" of Rahul Gandhi's thoughts and ideas, and that the party was waiting for him to weave these into a grand announcement. Khurshid later said his remarks were misinterpreted.