NEW DELHI/NEEMRANA: Senior Congress leader Karan Singh on Sunday said there was "no probable reason" why Rahul Gandhi should stay away from bigger responsibilities, adding to the clamour for the Gandhi scion to take up a bigger role in the party as working president.

"I was cabinet minister at 36, he is over 40 so there is no probable reason why he shouldn't. I assume he will be ready but what decision is taken will depend really upon (Congress chairperson) Soniaji (Gandhi) and him, it is between them," Singh was quoted by agencies as saying.

Singh was replying to questions whether Rahul was ready to assume a bigger role in the party on the sidelines of his third annual lecture at NIIT University.

The statement comes amid strong indications that the Congress heir apparent has been taking keen interest in organizational work and is taking up responsibilities that did not seem to interest him. Also, the power handover speculation spiked when Sonia suddenly cancelled her plan to address a rally in Uttarakhand.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said he would welcome Rahul assuming the post of Congress working president. "If Rahul Gandhi is given any new responsibility, I will welcome it," Singh said when asked whether Rahul was going to assume the post of working president about which there has been a lot of speculation.

The speculation gained momentum after Sonia had to go abroad for surgery for an undisclosed illness. Rahul was part of the four-member committee appointed by the Congress president to look after party affairs in her absence.

Rahul, a Congress general secretary, is currently in charge of youth and student wings and is a second-term Lok Sabha member from the family pocket borough of Amethi.