India, New Delhi: Today, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said he “expects” Rahul Gandhi to become the party chief during this year.

“Rahul Gandhi is the vice president of the Congress and we expect him to become president of the party in 2016 itself,” Mr Ramesh said at a press conference at Parliament House. To a query whether the party’s election strategist Prashant Kishor wanted Mr Gandhi to be projected as the chief ministerial candidate of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Ramesh evaded a direct reply, and instead said Congress leaders want him to lead the party.