Chennai: “I am ready to take any responsibility that the AICC gives me.” That was AICC spokesperson Khushbu Sundar speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Monday, after meeting with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi. She was responding to a scribe’s question if she was likely to succeed E. V. K. S. Elangovan as Tamil Nadu Congress president.

EVKS had quit the post on June 15. The Congress high command is still groping around to find his successor and several aspirants have been making pilgrimage to Delhi to present credentials. In that backdrop, Ms Khushbu’s meeting with Rahul caused some excitement in the media and TN Congress circles.

To the question if she could be the next PCC chief, the actor-politician replied, “It is far stretched. But if the AICC is willing (to give the responsibility), I am ready to take up any responsibility. But it is very very far stretched since there are several senior leaders. Let’s see what decision Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi take. But whatever they decide, we will abide it”.

The AICC last week concluded its consultation process with regard to appointment of new chief for the Tamil Nadu Congress after it asked incumbent E V K S Elangovan to step down following the party’s dismal performance in the May 16 Assembly elections.

Senior leaders S. Thirunavukarasar and Peter Alphonse are said to be the frontrunners for the post though half a dozen others have also staked claim. The Congress high command met quite a few among them and is likely to appoint a person who could carry along all the groups in the faction-ridden TN unit.