Sonia Gandhi to discuss Cong strategy with party MPs

Sonia Gandhi is expected to unveil Congress` strategy on Monday in the backdrop of opposition flak over issues like the VVIP chopper deal.

New Delhi: Sonia Gandhi is expected to unveil Congress` strategy on Monday in the backdrop of opposition flak over issues like the VVIP chopper deal, Italian marines and DMK threat to pull out of UPA on Sri Lankan Tamils problem.

Gandhi will address a general body meeting of Congress Parliamentary Party -- the first such interaction with her MPs after the start of the Budget session of Parliament last month.

The CPP meeting here comes at a time when key UPA ally DMK has hardened its stand on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue by slamming the Centre for its "lukewarm" response on the matter and threatened to walk out of the ruling alliance if it failed to move amendments to a US-sponsored resolution at UNHRC.

"If our demands are not met, it is doubtful whether our ties with the alliance (UPA) will continue...It won`t continue is sure," DMK President M Karunanidhi said in Chennai even as he shot off letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Gandhi, saying he felt "let down" by the government.

Gandhi, who is chairperson of both CPP and UPA, will meet Congress MPs against the backdrop of the government and the party facing opposition flak over several issues including the Italian marines as also the VVIP chopper deal.

The meeting also assumes significance ahead of six Assembly elections this year and the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

This is the first meeting of the CPP after Rahul Gandhi became Congress vice president.

Signalling a generational change in the 127-year-old Congress, Rahul is gradually expanding his role as the party prepares for a series of elections.

He has already met AICC functionaries and state leaders, including chief ministers and a large number of party MPs over the past few weeks.

PTI

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