Amethi: The issue of Rahul Gandhi being the "heir apparent" today (Apr 6, 2004) drew diverse responses from Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka, with the latter saying "of course" but the mother saying "his focus is Amethi".

"I am not grooming him for the job. He is not (heir apparent). He is going to concentrate on Amethi, on the work, all the development work here," said Sonia, a day after Rahul filed his nomination from the family pocketbourough once held by his father Rajiv Gandhi.

When asked about prospects of Rahul "taking over" two to three years down the line, she told 'NDTV 24X7', "Who knows. His focus is Amethi. I see him working for Amethi."

However, sister Priyanka was more forthcoming and said "of course" when asked by the news channel whether Rahul was the 'heir apparent'.

Replying to a question, Priyanka said, "Rahul will be a decent politician, because he is a decent human being.

"He is very sincere, cares for the people and their problems, well educated about politics and economics... his will to work hard," were the qualities that would ensure his success, Priyanka said adding, "I am very very proud of him."

Asked about her becoming emotional when Rahul formally entered the fray yesterday (Apr 5, 2004), Sonia said her feelings were the same as that of "any mother whose son enters politics or any other sphere of his interest".

Noting that she had a lot of memories associated with Amethi, she said, "It was for you all to see how different Rahul was from Rajiv.

"One shouldn't make comparisons between parents, children, grandchildren. They all have different temperaments, their own ways," she said, brushing away charges that there was pressure form her on Rahul to join politics.

"It's not a question of my pushing him. He took his own decision," Sonia said, adding that both her children always had an interest in politics and both followed it closely.

Referring to the charge that the party was being run like a "family business", Sonia said, "I don't quite see it like a family business because we fight elections. We could win or lose. We are democratically elected."

On any advice to Rahul, she said, "I don't believe in giving any advice. Young people know pretty much what they want to do. There's no question of giving advice."

She conceded that the family surname could be an advantage to Rahul, "but he would have to prove himself, like his father and grandmother".

Commenting on the failure to form any alliance with BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) or SP (Samajwadi Party) in Uttar Pradesh, she said the response from other parties was "not up to our expectations" and so the Congress would fight the polls on its own in UP.