Rahul agrees to become PM candidate after much persuasion by Sonia, Priyanka

Rahul Gandhi also told the Prime Minister the names of ministers whom he wanted for party work. These ministers include Jairam Ramesh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Oscar Fernandes, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot.

According to sources, the Prime Minister wanted that the ministers can continue to do party work while staying as ministers, because with the Model Code of Conduct coming into effect from February, the ministers would not be able to take decisions. But Rahul Gandhi wanted these ministers for fulltime party work. A final decision will be taken shortly.

Meanwhile, Priyanka Vadra has been visiting Rahul's residence regularly for the last three days to finetune the party's strategy.

Rahul Gandhi wanted a free hand in selecting at least 100 party candidates, who had a clean image. He is banking on the surveys that he carried out for each LS constituency through his Youth Congress observers.  The survey was conducted under the supervision of party general secretary Madhusudan Mistry.