Jaipur, Jan. 19 (ANI): The Congress Party on Saturday formally announced that party general secretary Rahul Gandhi has been elevated at the number two position in the party after Sonia Gandhi as he has been made party vice-president on the concluding day of two-day ''Chintan Shivir'' here.
Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi, while speaking to newspersons, confirmed the development saying the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and party president Sonia Gandhi have approved Rahul''s appointment as Vice-President.
"Following the party workers and leaders long awaited aspirations, defence Minister A.K. proposed to appoint Rahul Gandhi as vice-president before the working committee meeting before Congress president Gandhi and she gave her approval for that, and now he is the number two in party. Rahul Gandhi has also accepted the responsibility," said Dwivedi.
Soon after the announcement was made, celebrations broke outside the Congress party headquarters in New Delhi.
However, The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) played down the Congress decision and said that there is nothing new as Rahul Gandhi was at number two position earlier also.
"It was obvious that Congress will take such decision, because only members of the Nehru-Gandhi family can hold the top position in the party. Earlier he was party general secretary, now he has been made vice-president and latter he will be made president," said Rajeev Pratap Rudy, BJP spokesperson.
In Jaipur, where the party''s top leaders have been locked in intense debate over the last two days, there were speculations that Rahul will be formally declared the party''s candidate for Prime Minister.
He has already been given charge of the party''s campaign for 2014. (ANI)
