New Delhi, May 19 :     In the belief that extreme situations call for extreme measures, Congress workers today resorted to direct action to persuade Sonia Gandhi to return. Tactics ranged from suicide bids and fasts to a letter written in blood. The outpouring of grief and protest at the Congress president?s stunning resignation became a tidal wave as party workers as well as senior leaders clamoured for their chief to relent. Party activist Manju Sachdeva (40) doused herself with kerosene in front of 10 Janpath and was about to light the match. But she was prevented just in time by leaders and police personnel. Hundreds of workers gathered before the Gandhi residence, raising slogans against the ?treacherous? trio and demanding withdrawal of Sonia Gandhi?s resignation. A suicide attempt was also made in Hyderabad by the city?s Mahila Congress president Shanta Srivastava but she, too, was saved. In Bhopal, police prevented 25 Congress workers from committing suicide by jumping to death or through self-immolation. The workers gathered outside Jawahar Bhawan, where four leaders have been on a fast since yesterday. The activists who made a bid to commit self-immolation were first garlanded. Then they climbed atop a statue of Nehru and a bottle of kerosene was handed to them. But before they could set themselves ablaze, police rushed in to spray them with water. The workers were arrested. Some others, who tried to jump off a building, were also rounded up. Later, demonstrators burnt effigies of the rebels, Sharad Pawar, P.A. Sangma and Tariq Anwar. Those who would not embrace fire have decided to shun food. Scores of party workers across the country are on hunger strike ? many on a fast unto death ? to express their consternation. The Andhra Pradesh Congress and members of all district committees tendered mass resignations to Sonia Gandhi. They were joined by Tamil Nadu Congress president Tindivanam K. Ramamurthee and Orissa president Hemanand Biswal, who quit his post demanding Sonia Gandhi?s return at the helm.