Rahul to sharpen attack on Modi at Congress CMs’ meet

The chief ministers’ conclave is the first since Congress lost power at the Centre in May last year.

Having repeatedly shown his aggressive side since his return from a 56-day sabbatical, Rahul Gandhi is likely to unleash a fresh assault on the Narendra Modi government at a conference of Congress Chief Minister in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The conclave comes at a time when the Congress vice-president has launched a sustained campaign against the NDA government over a range of issues — from the land bill to the real estate bill, from net neutrality to de-recognition of a dalit students’ body at IIT-Madras.

The Congress leader, whose elevation as party chief is only a matter of time, is expected to once again target the “

suit-boot ki sarkar ”, particularly on the problems being faced by non-BJP states and the continuing agrarian crisis.

Though the AICC has so far not made public the agenda for the meet, alleged “neglect” of the social sector by the BJP-led government and its “failure” to address the problems of farmers are some of the issues he is likely to take up in a big way at the convention.

The chief ministers’ conclave is the first since Congress lost power at the Centre in May last year.

Congress is in power in nine states — Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

With Assembly elections in Assam and Kerala scheduled next year, the meet would also provide an opportunity to deliberate on the strategy ahead.

Ms. Sonia Gandhi, who has been at the helm of the party since 1998, had started the practice of organising conclave of its chief ministers when Congress was in opposition at the Centre.

Such meets had been held at Mount Abu, Guwahati, Delhi and Srinagar.

The Congress president has convened the meeting at a time when organisational elections have been delayed as also the elevation of Mr. Gandhi, who was made party vice president in January 2013 at the Jaipur ‘ Chintan Shivir ’.

While the brainstorming session in Jaipur was called to generate fresh ideas ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, its high point was the dramatic elevation of Mr. Gandhi as vice president.

Though the party high command has remained tight-lipped about the meetings of the Congress Working Committee and AICC to facilitate Mr. Gandhi’s elevation, a section of the party believes it would take place only after the Bihar assembly polls likely in September-October.

The chief ministers’ meet, a senior party leader said, was likely to send out a message that it was only a matter of time before Mr. Gandhi takes over.

Since his return from sabbatical, Mr. Gandhi has been in the forefront of Congress’ spirited assault on the Modi government with Sonia taking the back seat both in Parliament and outside.