AICC meet may lead to changes in party, government posts

NEW DELHI: After the poll debacle in four states, Congress is expected to utilise the AICC meeting here on January 17 for an organisational revamp to make the party fighting fit ahead of Lok Sabha election.

Party leaders say that the deliberations at the day-long AICC meeting being held after a year would help trace the organisational shortcoming ahead of polls.

Already there is buzz in the party that some party office bearers will be replaced and some Central Ministers be drafted for party work for poll preparations.

There is also speculation about replacement of a couple of party Chief Ministers.

The talk in the party is that issue of price rise has turned out to be the "main villian" in the debacle as it failed to convince voters. Party chief Sonia Gandhi had indicated on the day of the poll results that price rise has affected the fortunes of the party.

Besides, party leaders say the issue of corruption in the UPA-II was also a factor.

Party leaders say that there was need to activate cadres and make the election machinery active.

The AICC meeting is being held amid speculation that Rahul Gandhi could be anointed the party's Prime Ministerial candidate during the meet.

Party President Sonia Gandhi is expected to unveil tomorrow the future strategy in her first interaction with party MPs after the party's drubbing in four states.

Gandhi, who is also Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, will be addressing a meeting of the general body of the CPP.

The CPP meeting is also expected to be addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.