Sonia to attend east zonal meet

KOLKATA: By taking advantage of CPM’s repeated electoral defeats, Congress is trying hard to bolster its organisation in West Bengal. The state Congress leadership will hold the eastern zonal conference of the party in Kolkata sometime between September 22 and 26 to mark the completion of the party’s 125 years.

Party president Sonia Gandhi, general secretary Rahul Gandhi and senior AICC leaders will attend the conference here in September.

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) president Manas Bhunia told ET: “The Congress high command had just approved our plea to hold the prestigious party conference in Kolkata. AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will attend the function.”

Congress circles said AICC’s decision to allow the state Congress leadership to hold the conference in Kolkata will boost the morale of party workers before the 2011 assembly elections and also help the youth of Marxists-ruled states to remind them about India’s freedom movement and role of the Congress in it.

Mr Bhunia said about 6,000 delegates from West Bengal, Chhattishgarh, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and Andamans will attend the giant conference.

“We have decided to invite all the presidents of these six states, the district presidents, MPs, MLAs, elected panchayat functionaries, chairmen of the municipalities and heads of all the frontal organisations of our party,” Mr Bhunia added.

“We will finalise the date for the conference after the AICC chief gives her time and date for the function. Senior Union ministers and Congress leaders will also attend the conference,” said Mr Bhunia.