'Rahul, Cong to decide when to take over as PM'

Rahul Gandhi and Congress have to decide when he should take over as Prime Minister, the party said Monday.

"It is something he will decide, party high command will decide, people of India will decide," party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters in reply to a volley of uestions on the issue, including the timing of his takeover.

Her remarks came a day after party general secretary Digvijay Singh said it was time Rahul Gandhi became the Prime Minister.

Hailing the youth leader, Natarajan said Rahul Gandhi has brought about a tremendous change, especially among youth, democratisation of the party, reaching out to farmers, dalits and disadvantaged sections of the society.

He is not only a youth icon, but certainly a future leader of not only this party but of the country, she said.

She preceded her remarks by saying that "our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has done an excellent job in heading the government for the last seven years. Manmohan Singh is our PM and he continues to be that," she said.

To a question, she said that Digvijay Singh has already clarified that his statement has been misconstrued.

She denied a suggestion that a debate was on in the party over leadership.

Asked when Rahul will take over as PM, she said she was "not an astrologer...I am not leader of the Congress".

To a query whether Singh will complete his term as Prime Minister in UPA II, she said she had nothing further to add.