(Image source from: Why Congress did not nominate Rahul Gandhi for PM post?})

After much speculation, hullabaloo and several hot leads from high and mighty Congress leaders, the air is finally clear over Rahul's PM candidature.

And no, much to everyone's disbelief and party members' disappointment, the young party vice-president and Congress scion Rahul Gandhi will not run for the PM post in 2014 Polls. The decision was scripted by none other than party President Sonia Gandhi, who revoked the rumor saying that diehard enthusiastic members must wait till the elections are over.

Though the Congress was at great pains to explain why it stopped short of nominating him as the PM candidate, it also indicated all along the way that in case the party comes to power, he will be the PM.

So what restricted Congress from announcing party vice-president Rahul Gandhi as their prime ministerial candidate? Rahul, who will be the face of the Congress campaign this year, was apparently voted off by Congress' women wing who demanded Rahul Gandhi's anointment as the PM candidate be stalled at this moment.

Insiders also hint that Congress wanted to avoid a face-off with Modi and the AAP's Arvind Kejriwal as this would make the elections presidential, and go against India's parliamentary system.

Secondly, the Congress felt that they could counter-balance the negative impression of Rahul as a reticent leader by passing a resolution that elections would be fought under his stewardship.

Fifteen months down the line, the status of these committees is not exactly known. But the one thing that is certain is that Rahul continues to be the reluctant prince.

Meanwhile, BJP is pouncing on Congress with the most obvious question -- Is Congress trying to protect its first family from ultimate ignominy in the face of a near certain defeat in the coming elections?

AW: Suchorita Choudhury