Congress president Sonia Gandhi wants son Rahul to inherit her political mantle rather than daughter Priyanka, though the latter is more popular among party members, according to a report submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs by the Intelligence Bureau.

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This could be the reason why Priyanka was not made Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief despite demands from, among others, former state unit president Arun Kumar Singh Munna, an MHA source told rediff.com

Party leaders from UP have thronged Sonia's 10, Janpath residence to convince her to appoint Priyanka as the state Congress chief.

Though leaders like former UPCC chief Salman Khursheed and former youth Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala have underscored Priyanka and Rahul's potential, they have taken care to point out that as desired by Sonia, the issue of their entering politics is best left to them.

Significantly, it was Priyanka who introduced Rahul to Congress supporters in the Rae Bareily and Amethi parliamentary constituencies recently.

Priyanka has visited her Amethi, which Sonia represents in the Lok Sabha, several times. A few months ago, she addressed UP district Congress chiefs in Delhi, triggering speculation that she was at last joining politics.

Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma's statement that Priyanka and Rahul are primary members of the party has also greatly enthused workers.

Now, sources say, it will not be long before a demand is made that the two fight polls.