The Hindu : Cong. plans Pachmarhi-type meet

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 02, 2003

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Cong. plans Pachmarhi-type meet

By Javed M. Ansari

NEW DELHI APRIL 1. Encouraged by the success of the two-day national convention of block presidents and last Sunday's rally, the Congress leadership plans to hold a brainstorming session on the lines of the Pachmarhi conclave. The conclave will most likely be held after the budget session of Parliament.

Conscious of the need to maintain the momentum generated by the two events, the party leadership wants to keep the organisation in a state of preparedness for the electoral challenges ahead. Four Congress-ruled States — Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh — are scheduled to go to the polls later this year.

After interacting with the core of its organisation (the block presidents), the leadership has planned a brainstorming session involving senior leaders, Chief Ministers, PCC chiefs and CLP leaders. The first such exercise was held in September 1998. The idea apparently is to keep up the ideological and political momentum, and to keep the Congress workers in a state of constant preparedness.

The party also has to make up its mind on important issues such as poll alliances and coalitions. It was in Pachmarhi that the party first addressed the issue of entering into coalitions, albeit in a guarded fashion. "Coalitions will be considered only when absolutely necessary, and that too on the basis of agreed programmes", it had said then.

At its March 2001 plenary in Bangalore, the Congress elaborated on its position saying it "would be prepared to enter into appropriate electoral or coalition arrangements with secular parties on the basis of mutual understanding".

The issue has acquired great relevance in the current political scenario, and despite the Congress' reservations about sharing power there is now a growing realisation within the party that the time has come for a rethink on the issue.

A conference of Congress Chief Ministers is also likely. The quarterly exercise has not only kept the central leadership abreast of developments in States ruled by the party, but has also kept the State Governments and the Chief Ministers on their toes. "The leadership and the organisations have to be in a constant state of readiness," a senior party leader said.

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