Shashi Tharoor, Ashok Gehlot face-off in race for Congress chief?

However, a large section of Congress workers still want Rahul Gandhi to lead them, with several state units of the party passing resolutions to the effect.

As Congress prepares to hold its first presidential election in 22 years, two non-Gandhi candidates have thrown their hats in the ring - party MP Shashi Tharoor and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. This comes a day after Sonia Gandhi greenlit Tharoor’s candidature, reportedly saying that the Gandhi family will remain completely neutral in the contest.

However, a large section of Congress workers still want Rahul Gandhi to lead them, with several state units of the party passing resolutions to the effect. But for now, the contest will be a faceoff between the MP and the chief minister since Rahul Gandhi is yet to inform the party about his decision.

According to sources in the party, Ashok Gehlot could be the unofficial candidate backed by the Gandhis. The veteran leader has survived several political tsunamis - a rebellion against his leadership in the state led by his then deputy Sachin Pilot, attempts of poaching by the BJP, among others.

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Gehlot may file his nomination in the last week of September. However, he has always maintained that Rahul Gandhi should take over the reins of the party.

Last evening, Tharoor met Sonia Gandhi at 10, Janpath for a discussion over the election scheduled for October 17. The MP was reportedly told by the party's interim president that she wouldn't put forward any names for the party president’s post and that the polls would be neutral, sources said.

Sources close to the Thiruvananthapuram MP told India Today TV that he went to meet Sonia Gandhi to understand her idea of a free and fair election.