With the spectre of a mid-term poll weighing on its mind, the Congress has decided to convene an All India Congress Committee (AICC) session here this month to debate the nuclear deal issue as well as the Ram Sethu controversy and finalise its future strategy.
The session will also be an opportunity for partymen to endorse their faith on Rahul Gandhi, who was made party general secretary last week. The two-day session, that comes in the backdrop of threats from the Left parties that it will pull the rug if the government operationalised the nuclear deal, will be the first meeting of the AICC after the Hyderabad plenary last year where Rahul Gandhi had announced that he would be taking on an active role in the organisation.
There have been growing concerns in the ruling alliance over the standoff with the Left worsening and the apprehension that the latter could take an extreme step. The view in a section of the government was that the Left decision could come this month itself as both the Congress and the Left cannot afford to pull back from their stated positions. A snap poll could be held as early as mid-February next year, they felt. Party circles contend that the AICC session could be held in two weeks time, though exact dates are yet to be finalised. Party leaders will devise the strategy for the Assembly elections in Gujarat due to be held by the year-end. The Congress may also use the session to once again project itself in the ?aam admi? mould by coming out with innovative schemes to attract the common man towards the organisation.
