Seniors will have role after Rahul's elevation: Digvijay

New Delhi, Oct 22: Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh has rubbished any talk of banishing seniors after Rahul Gandhi's elevation as party President.

He says the Congress will not borrow from BJP the idea of "Margadarshak Mandal" under which veterans have been assigned the role of mentoring in a virtual sidelining of them.\

"The issue of elevation of Rahul Gandhi has to be decided by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the Congress Working Committee. This is something Digvijay Singh cannot predict," he said when asked about the talk that he could take over by March next year.

He said the grassroots Congress workers wanted the elevation to happen soon. "Yes, this is the common feeling among grassroots workers but when this decision can be taken only the Congress President can say," he said in an interview.

But when asked about another senior leader Jairam Ramesh's comments that leaders above 60 years of age would only be in an advisory role after Rahul takes over, Singh said, "Why should we borrow the idea of Margdarshak Mandal from the BJP.

"I have not seen the statement of Jairam Ramesh. But Congress has always supported young people. It is not only today but even before independence and it (Congress leadership) has been a combination of youth and experience."

After assuming office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made BJP veterans like L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi members of the 'Margdarshak Mandal' of the party, virtually sidelining them any role in the organisation or the government.

Turning to Bihar Assembly elections, Singh said if the BJP led NDA loses in the polls, it will have some impact but pose no threat to the Modi government which has a mandate for five years.

"I don’t think there is a challenge to the NDA Government ...If they do not do well, they will certainly be questioned," he said.

PTI