Rahul Gandhi takes over as Congress president today from his mother Sonia Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi is the fifth member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to lead the Congress; no one challenged his elevation in the organisation election that critics describe as a farce.
On the future role of Sonia Gandhi, 71, who yesterday talked about retiring, Mr Surjewala said: "We don't retire seniors, we use their experience... Be it Sonia Gandhi or Manmohan Singh, they will remain important for the party."
Rahul Gandhi was elevated as the party's vice president in January 2013 and has since then, operated as the party's number 2, but his track record hasn't been very impressive, with more defeats than election wins. But after his high-voltage performance in Gujarat, commentators say he is finally ready, after the longest internship in Indian politics.
