NEW DELHI: Congress scion Rahul Gandhi will take over as party president in April when India’s oldest political behemoth meets for stocktaking following a spate of electoral defeats, reports said on Wednesday.

The reports quoted unnamed party sources as saying that the 44-year old Congress vice president has gone on a two-week leave for introspection before being anointed leader. Congress president Sonia Gandhi who completed 15 years as Congress president on Wednesday, will make way for her son at the April session of the All India Congress Committee, the reports said.

Take a look: India's reluctant "prince" Rahul Gandhi takes break from politics

The Congress vice president is reported to have held consultations with a cross section of leaders, who endorsed his takeover of the 130-year-old party.

“While Rahul Gandhi’s crowning has been anticipated for some time, the news has crystallised at a time the party is confronting criticism over his sabbatical during the budget session,” NDTV news portal said.

Mr Gandhi wanted time to think, Congress leaders said after announcing his break on Monday.

They also clarified that he was “not quitting politics”.

Rahul Gandhi, the fourth generation of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, was appointed the party’s number two leader in Jaipur in 2013, but he has had a disappointing run, leading the party to a series of poll debacles including its worst drubbing in a national election last year.

A section of the party believes that he must take full control and shed the image of a reluctant politician before restructuring the organisation, NDTV said.

Published in Dawn February 26th , 2015

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