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Congress poll panel gets busy

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI May 17. The Congress' election strategy committee today got down to business, holding intensive sessions with the party leaders from Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Mizoram. The party units in the three States were asked to give top priority to strengthening the organisation and involving party workers in decision-making.

In separate sessions with the party leaders of the three States, the committee stressed the need for strengthening the party organisation at all levels as also the booth committees to ensure the party's return to power.

The 11-member committee headed by Manmohan Singh first met Lalthanhawla from Mizoram and was later closeted with the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Ajit Jogi, and the State PCC chief, Ram Anuj Yadav. The committee reviewed the level of poll preparedness in both the States and suggested several measures that could be taken up. The leaders were told to pay particular attention to the preparation of the voters' list and strengthening the frontal organisations.

According to the AICC general secretary, Ambika Soni, more meetings were planned for the future. "We took into account our poll preparedness and the areas that we need to focus," she said adding that the committee also stressed on the need to aggressively implement the AICC action plan.

The State units will soon set up manifesto and campaign committees. "The campaign in the States will be led by the respective Chief Ministers," a senior leader said. The party president, Sonia Gandhi, will also campaign extensively in each of the States going to the polls.

After the meeting, Mr. Jogi told presspersons that the party would not enter into any electoral alliance in the State. "We will be fighting the elections on the basis of the performance of my government and we will fight on our own."

Making light of the impact of V.C. Shukla's switchover to the Nationalist Congress Party, Mr. Jogi said it was of no political consequence. "It is not an issue and has had no impact, nobody of consequence has left the party to join him."

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