Aligarh, Dec 7 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Monday lamented the lack of internal democracy in political parties, saying party organisations needed to be democratised.

Gandhi made the remarks during an interaction with the students of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) here.

Though democracy has flourished in the country for a long time, no political party had paid to the need for promoting and fostering internal democracy in party structures by holding regular elections, he said.

The tendency of nominating people in various positions should go and officer bearers should be duly elected, he added.

The MP from Amethi also fielded questions from students.

Asked about the elevation of Manmohan Singh as the prime minister in 2004, he said: "He was not made the prime minister because he is a Sikh but because he was the most capable person for the post."

A girl student asked if India would ever get a Muslim prime minister, Gandhi replied: "You (the students) need to step up and be leaders."

In his speech, Gandhi called upon the youths to take to politics.

"Participation of people in politics is important... all of you have a vision and we need that," he said.

Gandhi is on a two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh to boost the membership drive undertaken to re-activate the Youth Congress.

He began his trip from Aligarh. He will also visit Etah, Hardoi, Lakhimpur-Kheri, Bahraich, Ambedkar Nagar and Sitapur.