Rahul Gandhi, who is part of a committee set up by Sonia Gandhi to oversee party affairs in her absence, will take part in the national flag hoisting ceremony at the Congress headquarters here on August 15.
The AICC general secretary, who is currently in the US by the side of his mother, will be back here before Independence Day to take part in the celebrations.
The Congress President is in a U.S. Hospital recuperating after a surgery. A senior party leader, who declined to be identified, said “her recovery was normal and the doctors find it on expected lines.”
Rahul Gandhi, is one of the four members of the committee set up by the AICC president to oversee party work in her absence. The other three are A.K. Antony, Ahmed Patel and Janardan Dwivedi.
Congress sources said senior party leaders will request Mr. Gandhi to unfurl the national flag but in case he declines, the senior-most leader in the AICC Motilal Vohra could be asked to do it.
Sources said that on a previous occasion also, Mr. Vora had unfurled national flag at the AICC headquarters on January 26, last year when Ms. Gandhi was not well.
Mr. Gandhi will also be attending the August 20 function here to give away the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award.
The 19th edition of the award this year goes to SPICMACAY, an institution working for the promotion of Indian classical music and culture among the youth.
Sources in the party said Telugu film star Chiranjeevi, who merged his party Praja Rajyam with the Congress, will also be coming to the national capital to take party membership formally at the AICC headquarters where Mr. Gandhi is expected to be present.
