Rahul Gandhi darling of Congress: Manmohan Singh

Former Prime Minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh on Monday called Congress president in the waiting, Rahul Gandhi, "darling" of the party and will carry forward the "great traditions" of the Congress.

"Rahul Gandhi is a darling of the Congress and he will carry forward the great traditions of the party," the former Prime Minister was quoted as saying after Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers for the party's top post.

The Congress President Sonia Gandhi has served the party for over 19 years, he said and added: "So it will be yet another chapter for the party and Rahul Gandhi will carry on the great traditions of taking the party forward."

Over 90 sets of nominations are expected to be filed supporting Gandhi whose election is a mere formality now, as there is no other candidate for the party's top post.

Gandhi will succeed his mother Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving Congress chief who has helmed the party since 1998.