Adik meets Sonia, says he has not been asked to quit

Just a day after the word went out from 10 Janpath that Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh would have to make way for someone else, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Govindrao Adik met party chief Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Adik said he was prepared to step down if so asked by Sonia Gandhi. He, however, added that he had not been asked to quit by the party president.

Adik, who is known for his differences with the chief minister, said the Vilasrao Deshmukh goverment had done a good job despite all the difficulties.

A team of three All India Congress Committee observers led by party's general sectretary in charge of Maharashtra, Vayalar Ravi, are reaching Mumbai on Wednesday to hold discussions with senior leaders and legislators.

Pranab Mukherjee and Ghulam Nabi Azad are the other two observers.