After 23 leaders wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi and called for a “full time and effective leadership”, many Gandhi family loyalists including chief ministers of Congress-ruled states said that either Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi should helm Congress. Amid rumours that Sonia Gandhi would step down as party chief, the arguments on both sides exposed a sharp vertical divide between the Gandhi family loyalists and those batting for change. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said, “News of 23 senior most Congress leaders writing letter to Hon’ble CP is unbelievable and if it is true - it’s very unfortunate was no need to go in media I strongly believe that Hon’ble CP Smt Sonia Gandhi ji should continue to lead the party at this crucial juncture where the fight is to save the ethos of our Democracy. She has always taken challenges head on. But if she has made up her mind -I believe Rahul Gandhi should come ahead and be the Congress President as country faces the biggest challenge to save our Constitution -Democracy.”