Sonia 'supreme leader', Rahul will bounce back: Antony

Senior Congress leader A.K. Antony has said that Sonia Gandhi is the "supreme leader" and she will continue as party president till the party wishes.

Antony stated this while addressing a press conference in the capital on the policy group meet under the chairmanship of Sonia Gandhi.

When asked about Rahul Gandhi the senior leader said that "Rahul Gandhi will bounce back with more strength".

The question of Sonia Gandhi arose as she was not able to campaign in the recently Assembly elections. The lone rally planned for her in Mahendragarh was cancelled due to her health and Rahul Gandhi had to pitch in at the last moment.

Senior leader Digvijaya Singh tweeted: "Everyone was predicting a landslide victory for BJP in Haryana and Maharashtra but the sheer courage of Congress workers proved the pollsters wrong. We have done unexpectedly well even in by-elections. Well done!! Congress Party Zindabad Sonia Gandhi Zindabad."

The Congress has termed the results of two state Assembly elections as encouraging as it increased it's tally from previous results. But the party is wary of the leadership issue. The younger lot is asserting for more while the older ones do not want to be replaced.

The party leader said that since Rahul Gandhi has stepped away, the younger leaders are facing threat to be dumped. After the fate of Ashok Tanwar the younger lot is more demanding with Sachin Pilot opening a front against Ashok Gehlot. General Secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia is also asking for a PCC post. He has met party incharge Deepak Babaria on Thursday. Scindia also did not compaign in the Jhabua bypolls.

The party has to face two more Assembly elections in next three months. Elections in Jharkhand and Delhi are due. The party faces a tough task to fight the BJP and contain the rift within, said a leader.IANS