File photo of Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav
As speculation continues on whether
Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav would step down over charges of his involvement in
Vyapam scam, the Congress has directly approached the Governor, a former partyman, asking him to resign, sources told NDTV.
An emissary of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has called up Raj Bhawan in Bhopal, sources said, after her son and party vice president
Rahul Gandhi took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and condemned the Vyapam scam.
Top sources told NDTV that the emissary had conveyed the Congress president's wish to the Governor - who is also an UPA appointee - that he resign in view of the Supreme Court notice to him this earlier today.
In response to the Mrs Gandhi's request, Governor Yadav reportedly conveyed that he had done nothing wrong, sources said.
Mr Yadav is an accused in the Vyapam scam - a huge admission and recruitment racket that allegedly involves top bureaucrats and politicians - but he claims immunity as a constitutional head.
While the Madhya Pradesh High Court had upheld his claim, the Supreme Court sent him a notice today, asking him to reply within four weeks.
Mr Yadav, 87, has offered no comments on the matter. Sources said he watched the news and napped in the afternoon, and in the evening, hosted an Iftaar party. His office has confirmed that he has no plans to travel to Delhi any time soon.
Despite his defiance, the Congress hopes that its move will distance it from the former partyman who even contested the 2004 General Election on its ticket. But in view of the situation, the party's move is being seen as an attempt to score a political point.
With Mr Yadav digging in his heels, it is now up to the government, which will take a final call once the Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from his six-nation tour on Monday.