NEW DELHI: AICC on Monday appointed Rahul Gandhi as General Secretary of Congress party and opened doors for young generation of Congressmen with an eye on next gneral elections, possible anytime next year.Rahul has also been given the charge of two important frontal organizations, the Youth Congress and NSUI - the party's student wing.

Rahul decided to formally join the party organization realizing, this could be the last chance for him to strengthen his mother's hands ahead of the next general elections likely to take place ahead of schedule. "I am happy he has finally decided to join the organization,'' said Sonia Gandhi, Congress President. Rahul isn't the only one, other young MPs like Priya Dutt and Jiten Prasada too have been made secretaries.

A special team has been formed to look into future challenges, which includes young faces like Rahul, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sandeep Dikshit and Sachin Pilot, all from political backgrounds who had been itching for a long time to prove their political worth.

''Apart from Rahul there are a number of young Congress leaders who have been given a chance to join the organisation and take part,'' said Mukul Wasnik, Congress General Secretary.The focus suddenly seems to have shifted to young blood. A possible indication of a Cabinet expansion in the Manmohan Singh government, since some of his ministers have been given a more proactive role in the party.

Finally Rahul Gandhi has decided to take the plunge and formally be part of the Congress organization. What will be put to test is whether he will really be able to make a difference.

Major changes

While Rahul Gandhi's elevation in the party ranks has been cheered by everybody in the Congress, the major reshuffle has resulted in some prominent names being dropped.

Rahul Gandhi who has been made General Secretary will take charge of Youth Congress and NSUI from Oscar Fernandes.

And Prithviraj Chavan a minister of state in the PMO has been made in charge of Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka.

Digvijay Singh has been made in charge of Uttar Pradesh in place of Ashok Gehlot. Rita Bahuguna, daughter of the late H N Bahuguna, replaces Salman Khursheed as party president in Uttar Pradesh.

Ajay Maken is now the in charge of two states - Orissa and Jharkhand. Other new General Secretaries are KC Deo and Mohsina Kidwai who is made incharge of Punjab.