Mom is my 'real hero', says Rahul

President of India's Congress Party Sonia Gandhi (R) smiles after being given a rose by her son and newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi (L) during a Congress parliamentary party meeting at Parliament House in New Delhi yesterday. Sonia was unanimously elected the parliamentary leader of the party, taking her one step closer to becoming Prime Minister of India, and leader of the world's largest democracy. PHOTO: AFP

Asked by reporters if he would join the government, Rahul, who won from Amethi parliamentary constituency by a handsome margin, replied in the negative last night.

The 34-year-old Nehru-Gandhi dynasty member ridiculed suggestions that he was in the race for the post of Prime Minister saying "if it is a serious question, then it is ridiculous."

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Rahul said he would say "no" even if there was pressure from Congress party for his occupying the post of Prime Minister. "I will accept any command of the party except this," he added.

Replying to a question, he said the verdict of the general elections was clearly a rejection of Bharatiya Janata Party whose campaign focused on a few individuals, an apparent reference to the criticism of her mother's foreign origin.