Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor met Sonia Gandhi on Monday and expressed his intention to contest the upcoming AICC chief polls, while the Congress president conveyed that she would stay ‘neutral’ in the elections, sources said.

While Tharoor got vocal with his desire, speculation about Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot being considered as a candidate for the top post is getting louder.

According to sources in the Congress, Gehlot is likely to contest for the Congress president position in the party’s internal election. The speculation, interestingly, is being made after Rajasthan Congress unanimously passed a resolution in favour of Rahul Gandhi returning as the party chief.

Sonia welcomed the idea of more people contesting the polls, thereby dispelling the notion that there would be an "official candidate".

Last week Tharoor was one of the many leaders, who sought transparency in the poll process for the AICC chief. He wrote to AICC central election authority, asking for the list of voters be made public.

With Sonia’s nod to Tharoor’s desire to contest for the post is being seen by many as an encouragement. He is expected to announce his candidature in the next few days.

With regard to Tharoor's meeting with Sonia and the speculation over it, the grand old party has maintained that no one needs a nod to contest the presidential election. It is an open, democratic and transparent process, says Congress

“Anybody who wants to contest is free and welcome to do so. This has been the consistent position of Congress President and Shri Rahul Gandhi. This is an open, democratic and transparent process. Nobody needs anybody's nod to contest,”AICC general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said.

Gehlot, had earlier denied that he is a candidate and has even mentioned about convincing Rahul to contest for the post.

However, Rahul, who at present is building ground for the party with its Bharat Jodo Yatra, is still reluctant to return as the party president. Sonia too has ruled out the possibility of leading the party as its chief.

With the crisis that party has been facing over the year, anyone donning the role of the party leader, will be having a Herculian task of leading the grand old party for the 2024 elections.