Advancing Lok Sabha elections, projection of a “leader”, impact of flagship programmes, alliances and Narendra Modi’s growing appeal among industry captains and the middle class would be debated, directly and indirectly, in the Congress’ two-day chintan shivir being held in Jaipur on Friday and Saturday this week.
The Congress has called the brainstorming session after nine years at a time when it is in power since 2004 at the Centre and “defensive” on many issues. But it was on the “offensive” when such sessions were held in Shimla in 2003 and Panchmarhi in 1998.
“The focus of this exercise will obviously be on political and elections,” a CWC member involved in this exercise feels.
The chintan shivir is being held in the absence of Mr Pranab Mukherjee after his election as President of India, and the late Arjun Singh and P.V. Narasimha Rao.
There are two schools of thought in the Congress on the timing of holding the general elections. A section of the party feels holding the Lok Sabha elections with Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Delhi Assembly polls by the end of this year would help politically.
The Congress would fight these elections unitedly in the Hindi belt which could also influence other states. But prolonging the stay in power would further harm the party, it feels.
However, others want the government to complete its term. “We should wait for the impact of flagship programmes, Budget and the direct cash transfer programme, food security and land acquisition bills,” they feel.
Projection of a “leader” is an important decision. The Congress had projected Dr Manmohan Singh as its prime ministerial candidate at least eight months before the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
“This strategy had helped in Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, “ a Congress leader pointed out.
The issue of pre-poll alliance is going to be crucial this time. This is because the party strategists view that the ally DMK has not revived in Tamil Nadu while prospective allies — RJD and LJP — have not emerged as an alternative to chief minister Nitish Kumar who could desert the NDA if it projects Mr Modi as its prime ministerial candidate.
Besides, the party will have to fight alone in West Bengal after the Trinamul Congress’ exit.
In Maharashtra, the picture is messy as the Congress-NCP combine could face anti-incumbency. But the Shiv Sena, BJP, RPI(A) and the MNS are not emerging as an alternative.
“How can we discuss issues like future political challenges, emerging socio-economic challenges without Narendra Modi who is emerging as a darling of the corporate sector,” they asked.

***
350 to be present at session
age correspondent
new delhi, Jan. 15

Around 350 select Congress leaders across the country are attending the party’s chintan shivir in Jaipur on Friday and Saturday this week.
They include 41 CWC members (18 nominated, 18 permanent invitees and five special invitees), the party’s Union ministers consisting of 23 Cabinet-rank, 12 MoS (independent charge) and 25 MoS, four leaders of the frontal organisations, 34 Pradesh Congress Committee presidents, 29 Congress Legislature Party leaders, three office-bearers of the Congress Parliamentary Party, 64 Indian Youth Congress leaders, 54 NSUI leaders, one member of central election committee, 32 AICC secretaries, eight chairmen of AICC departments and cells and the AICC spokespersons. Meanwhile, prominence to youth leaders in the brainstorming session is not going down well within the party. This has upset middle-level leaders, including some former Union ministers and MPs who failed to get the invitation.