Amid Congress crisis, Gehlot meets Sonia

 Amid a leadership crisis in the Congress following the Lok Sabha election disaster, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday met UPA Chairperson and senior party leader Sonia Gandhi at her residence here.

Gehlot's meeting with Sonia Gandhi lasted for over 40 minutes, party sources said.

The meeting came two days after all five Congress Chief Ministers on Monday met Rahul Gandhi in a bid to persuade him to continue as the Congress chief. However, Rahul Gandhi has rejected their demands and asked them to look for a new party President.

Rahul Gandhi offered to step down on May 25 at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee after the party suffered a huge blow in the Lok Sabha elections, winning just 52 seats. Gandhi himself was defeated in Amethi in Uttar Pradesh but won from Wayanad in Kerala. IANS