<p>Even as his loyalists launch a campaign seeking his return as Congress President, Rahul Gandhi has conveyed to the party leadership that he was not keen on the post and would like to remain as a Lok Sabha member.</p>.<p>Rahul, 49, had stepped down as Congress President in July last year, accepting responsibility for the party's loss in the Lok Sabha elections which were won by the BJP by a margin than what it had won in 2014.</p>.<p>After the stopping, the BJP juggernaut in Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections last year, a section of Rahul loyalists had started making demands for his return as Congress President.</p>.<p>Sonia Gandhi had returned to head the Congress for the interim period till the party elected a new president, a move that was seen in political circles as keeping the seat warm for Rahul.</p>.<p>There was a buzz of the meeting of the AICC after the Delhi assembly elections where Rahul was expected to return as the party president.</p>.<p>However, Rahul has conveyed to the leadership that he was not interested in the top post – at least for now.</p>.<p>Congress has been reduced to a fringe player in the national capital with little expectation of making a mark in Saturday's assembly elections, which will not create the necessary groundswell of support for Rahul's elevation to the top party post.</p>.<p>Another assembly election this year is to the Bihar Assembly, where the Congress is riding piggyback on the RJD. A lack of popular face and dominance of caste-based political outfits has pushed the grand old party to the margins in the state where its writ once ran large.</p>.<p>Moreover, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has been making key appointments to party posts in consultation with Rahul which ensures that he maintains hold over the day-to-day affairs of the organisation by remaining in the shadows.</p>
<p>Even as his loyalists launch a campaign seeking his return as Congress President, Rahul Gandhi has conveyed to the party leadership that he was not keen on the post and would like to remain as a Lok Sabha member.</p>.<p>Rahul, 49, had stepped down as Congress President in July last year, accepting responsibility for the party's loss in the Lok Sabha elections which were won by the BJP by a margin than what it had won in 2014.</p>.<p>After the stopping, the BJP juggernaut in Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections last year, a section of Rahul loyalists had started making demands for his return as Congress President.</p>.<p>Sonia Gandhi had returned to head the Congress for the interim period till the party elected a new president, a move that was seen in political circles as keeping the seat warm for Rahul.</p>.<p>There was a buzz of the meeting of the AICC after the Delhi assembly elections where Rahul was expected to return as the party president.</p>.<p>However, Rahul has conveyed to the leadership that he was not interested in the top post – at least for now.</p>.<p>Congress has been reduced to a fringe player in the national capital with little expectation of making a mark in Saturday's assembly elections, which will not create the necessary groundswell of support for Rahul's elevation to the top party post.</p>.<p>Another assembly election this year is to the Bihar Assembly, where the Congress is riding piggyback on the RJD. A lack of popular face and dominance of caste-based political outfits has pushed the grand old party to the margins in the state where its writ once ran large.</p>.<p>Moreover, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has been making key appointments to party posts in consultation with Rahul which ensures that he maintains hold over the day-to-day affairs of the organisation by remaining in the shadows.</p>
