Shimla, July 06: Out of power from the Centre for seven long years, the Congress top brass led by Sonia Gandhi begin a three-day brainstorming camp here tomorrow to generate fresh ideas on key issues and alliances ahead of the coming assembly polls and general elections. The camp (Vichar Manthan Shivir) is being held in the backdrop of growing speculation of an early Lok Sabha poll as the "chintan baithak" of top bjp leadership including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Uttan near Mumbai last month discussed in detail the strategy for the assembly polls in five states and general elections. The Congress meet is expected to generate heated discussions on issues like alliances and economic policy in the wake of divergent views on tie-ups as also liberalisation and globalisation with a section insisting on projecting a pro-poor image like in the Indira Gandhi era when "garibi hatao" paid rich political dividends.

A section in the party contends that the party should pull out all the stops to woo the voter by coming out with a "please all" formula. A victory in the Lok Sabha polls is crucial for Gandhi and the party as it has faced three successive defeats in the polls in 1996, 1998 and 1999.

The background paper on political challenges is prepared by a committee headed by senior leader Arjun Singh, who sometime back had openly advocated the need to sew up tie-ups early for the national elections.

Congress, which has never shared power at the Centre, is now open to the idea and is making right noises on the issue.

Bureau Report