Giving a new turn to the transfer of power imbroglio in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is understood to have told the Congress to give him a full six-year term or take over reins of power immediately.
Highly placed Congress sources dismissed suggestions that the chief minister had sought only a year's extension, saying his proposal was for giving him three more years.
The sources said the Congress had entered into the power-sharing agreement with the PDP in good faith but as the term of the Mufti neared its end, the chief minister has sprung a surprise.
The proposal has agitated state Congress leaders, including party legislators who feel that its alliance partner was not giving the party its rightful due.
Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma and Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad were among the prominent party leaders with whom Congress chief Sonia Gandhi interacted on the issue.
After his meeting with Gandhi, Azad said he had apprised the party chief of the feelings of party workers in the state, including legislators, and it was for her to take a decision in the matter.
At the AICC briefing, party spokeswoman Jayanti Natrajan said there was no question of the Congress shying away from power in the state.
At the same time, she said Congress had no lust for power and for it national interest was uppermost.
Our Correspondent adds:
Ambika Soni denied news reports that 19 MLAs of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly have tendered their conditional resignations to assembly Speaker Tara Chand in their bid to pressurise the Congress high command not to allow Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to continue.
"There is no question of taking such a step. Our MLAs may have strong feelings on the subject but they would not do any such thing," she told newsmen.
A news agency had put out story that the Congress MLAs were upset with the central party leadership.
Speaking to rediff.com, Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma said that the MLAs resignation is nothing more then posturing.
"Once Sonia Gandhi takes a decision one way or the other, the Congress MLAs would follow her directive in letter and spirit," he said.
Sharma is returning to Srinagar on Thursday morning to carry out winding up operations of his ministerial office in Srinagar.
"I have a couple of important meetings in Srinagar tomorrow before the Darbar moves to Jammu for the winter period," he said.
Sonia has summoned former president of the Jammu and Kashmir unit Gulam Rasool Kar and would hold consultations with him and other senior leaders of the party.
But the 21 Congress MLAs, when contacted individually, confirmed that they had written letters of resignations and handed over the same to the speaker.
The MLAs in their resignation letters have written that in case Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is allowed to continue then their resignations should be accepted.
Those who have tendered their resignations include cabinet ministers and ministers of state in the Mufti government.
Those who have not tendered their resignations are Sharma, state Congress chief Peerzad Mohammad Sayeed and the speaker himself.
Social Welfare minister Mula Ram has also not tendered his resignation. Congress had 20 MLAs in the assembly and five associate MLAs.
