The Congress could project Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, sources in the party have indicated.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will lead the party’s campaign, the source added amid the chorus that the Gandhi scion assume a larger role in the party or the government. It is believed that Sonia will begin consultations with MPs on the party’s affairs on Tuesday.

“We will press for projecting a PM within the party,” a senior party leader, who did not want to be quoted, said.

There is a feeling in the party that 80-year-old Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may suffer owing to the anti-incumbency factor and a younger face such as Rahul could be the best bet. If the BJP projects Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its candidate, it would be even better for the Gandhi scion, some party leaders believe.

Indicating that there are differences over Rahul’s future role in the party, a party source scotched reports that the general secretary will be made the working president or vice-president of the Congress.

“When Sonia is active and is elected president of the party till 2015, there is no need for a working president or vice-president,” the leader said, adding “we have a full-time party president.”

He also scoffed at the “September timeline” given by AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh for Rahul to assume a bigger role in the party.

Sources said some in the party are wary of creating a parallel power centre undermining the authority of Sonia, who is still active and calls the shots.

As speculation of Rahul getting a bigger role gathered momentum, Sonia had a meeting with senior leaders Janardan Dwivedi, Digvijaya Singh and Jairam Ramesh on Monday. Her political secretary Ahmed Patel was also present. While the leaders refused to divulge what transpired at the meeting, a party source claimed the meeting was about organisational matters.

Digvijaya, meanwhile, stood by what he told the media, that Rahul should assume a mainstream role in the party leaving the charge of the Youth Congress and NSUI to someone else in the AICC. He, however, said it was his personal view and it was up to Rahul to take the final call.

In reply to a question, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said the party will fight the 2014 Lok Sabha polls under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership.

“Finally the time has come for him to assume a larger role… He should come in the mainstream… This is the demand of all Congressmen,” Digvijaya said.

Rahul should play a larger role from September, once the presidential elections are over, he added. But he refused to clarify what he meant by a larger role.

After Pranab Mukherjee’s exit from the all-powerful Congress core group, Rahul could also be formally brought in there.