New Delhi, Dec 13 (DHNS): Sonia Gandhi is expected to continue as the chairperson of Congress party in Parliament and at the helm of the UPA after Rahul Gandhi takes over as party president on Saturday.

Congress sources said that the 47-year-old Rahul would take over as party president on Saturday but his mother Sonia is expected to continue to lead the party in Parliament.

"It was after great thought that two separate posts of Congress president and chairperson of the Congress Party in Parliament (CPP) were created. This enabled the Congress president to be a leader of the parliamentary party as well," sources said.

They pointed out that for several years after Independence, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was at the helm in Parliament, while other leaders held the post of Congress president.

However, later Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao were at the helm of the CPP and the Congress at the same time.

Besides, the 71-year-old Sonia will also continue to hold the post of chairman of the United Progressive Alliance and deal with friendly parties.

Though several of the UPA constituents are witnessing a generational change, in some parties, the old guard continues to call the shots given their wide experience in administration and public life.

"We will continue to receive the guidance of Sonia Gandhi," Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said.

Earlier, Rahul - who arrived in the capital after curtains came down on Gujarat election campaign - was given a rousing welcome at his residence by party workers and well-wishers. Rahul was on campaign trail when the Central Election Authority of the Congress declared him elected unopposed as the president of the party on Monday.

Rahul is scheduled to assume charge as Congress president on Saturday at a grand function at the AICC headquarters in the presence of thousands of party workers and leaders.