Don't want to get into negative politics: Rahul Gandhi

, Jan 24: Newly appointed vice-president of the

party,

, said on Wednesday that he did not want to get into negative

and criticise people. He said people were fighting each other over petty reasons and he instead, was looking to practise positive politics to take the country forward.

Gandhi, who visited the AICC headquarters at 24, Akbar Road, on Wednesday evening to meet the office-bearers, later told reporters that the political environment in the country was "extremely acrimonious".

The 42-year-old, projected by various quarters as the future prime minister of India, looked relaxed and charged up as he walked from 10 Janpath to the AICC office accompanied by senior party leaders. The man looked confident ever since the Jaipur meet where he seemed to get rid of the label of a 'reluctant leader' and gave an emotional inauguration speech to announce that he was here to give the grand-old party a new direction.

Party insiders feel that Gandhi should use the momentum gained at Jaipur to implement his plan to revamp the Congress and they said such moves in a feel-good environment help him take more challenging decisions that might not be easy in a different situation.

The revamping process should be carried out before the Budget session begins on Feb 21 and also that the party needed time to organise itself before the next general elections, party sources said.

Sources, however, said that Gandhi might opt for gradual changes and could begin by changing hierarchy at the secretary level. It was learnt that speculation over big changes has made the party's old guard uncomfortable and Gandhi tried to reach out to the senior leaders in his first meeting. He told the office-bearers that he wanted to utilise their experience to make his plans successful and appreciated the fact that experience of some of the leaders were more than his age.

Gandhi said, Congress was the most powerful instrument to bring change and encourage youngsters to join politics.

OneIndia News