New Delhi. Rahul Gandhi today broke his silence on the growing clamour for a greater role in the party and government announcing that he was ready for it with a caveat that it was for the leadership to decide on the timing. "I will play a more proactive role in the party and the government. The decision has been taken, the timing is upto my two bosses - the Congress President and the Prime Minister," Rahul said.

His comments come a day after Congress President Sonia Gandhi had said that it was for Rahul to decide for himself on playing a larger role in the party. Rahul's remarks after casting his vote in the President's election this morning set off a fresh round of appeals and comments with AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi expressing his happiness over his statement.

"We will be very happy if Shri Rahul Gandhi takes on some more responsibility and it will be a very welcome step. What responsibility, whether in the government or the party and when, it is upto the party leadership and Rahulji to decide," Dwivedi said in a statement.

Other senior leaders and ministers including Digvijay Singh, M Veerappa Moily and V Kishore Chandra Deo also hailed Rahul's announcement saying the party and the government needed enthusiastic and passionate participation of the youth leader.

Last week, Law Minister Salman Khurshid created ripples when he said the Congress had only seen cameos of Rahul like his campaign in Uttar Pradesh and needed his focussed attention to give it guidance. Digvijay Singh has been demanding that Rahul play a greater role in the party.