New Delhi,(The Telegraph): Rahul Gandhi has almost finalised his new team and the much-awaited shuffle, delayed since last year, may be announced once the Bihar election results are out on Sunday.

Congress sources said the names could be declared sometime after Diwali.

While there had been confusion about the role of the veterans who occupied important posts in Sonia Gandhi's team and also questions about Rahul's credibility as a leader, the party vice-president returned from his controversial sabbatical earlier this year to grab centre stage.

Now the entire party appears to be ready to accept his leadership.

Sonia has anyway withdrawn from organisational activities and Rahul's elevation as party president is just a formality.

Although there is still no clarity on the timing of the elevation - later this year or next year - senior leaders have hinted at an overhaul in the leadership structure after the Bihar elections.

Rahul, on his part, has been interviewing leaders from different states to pick new talent and the exercise is almost over. Key states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, too, will get new heads in the impending shuffle.

While Rahul is expected to induct a large number of young leaders, appointing some of them to important posts like that of the AICC general secretary, age wouldn't be the sole criterion. The party has already dismissed speculation that leaders above 60 could be packed off to an advisory role, like the BJP's margdarshak mandal.

There is, however, a possibility of setting up a think tank that will include experienced leaders who cannot be accommodated in the AICC secretariat.

Among the current general secretaries, chances of survival are thin for most. Some, who have been integral to Sonia's team, and others who were brought in by Rahul are all supposed to be in trouble. Some of them could be adjusted in a different role, like that of a spokesperson.

There is also a possibility that the high command structure could be extended. While more than the usual six general secretaries can be appointed, new posts can be created to engage more leaders for regular party work. The number of secretaries can be increased, too. A committee to monitor performance is on the cards. Rahul has often spoken about a reward-for-merit mechanism.

While many veterans have almost made up their mind to make way for younger leaders, some 60-plus leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, A.K. Antony, Ahmed Patel, P. Chidambaram, Digvijaya Singh, Kamal Nath, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid and Jairam Ramesh would continue to play an important role.

There is curiosity, too, about Rahul's key advisers and whether he, like his mother, would keep a political secretary.

While Patel is likely to continue as Sonia's political secretary, there was a time when most leaders expected the Wharton-educated Kanishka Singh, who was Rahul's eyes and ears, to play this role when the Congress vice-president formally took over.

But Kanishka, son of former governor S.K. Singh, was given a different role around ten months ago, although he remains a part of Rahul's core team. Kanishka started looking after Congress assets and properties and some leaders feel he was "upgraded" because of his maturity and removed from the job of managing Rahul's appointments and tours.

He now reports to Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Vadra on vital matters relating to the party while routine affairs are looked after by Alankar Sawai and Kaushal Vidyarthee.

Jitendra Singh, Randeep Surjewala, R.P.N. Singh, Deepender Hooda and Ajay Maken are all close to Rahul but nobody knows who his political secretary will be.

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