The Hindu : Kerala News : Congress State conference begins today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 03, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Congress State conference begins today

Special Correspondent

KOCHI: Amid excitement and apprehensions about the Assembly election just seven weeks away, the crucial State conference of the Congress begins here on Friday.

The five-day conference get under way with KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala raising the party flag at the main conference venue at Ambedkar Stadium, renamed Indira Gandhi Nagar at 9 a.m. At 10 a.m., the KPCC executive will meet.

The main event of the day will be a meeting of the Congress old guard in the afternoon.

Freedom fighters to participate

Some 500 former leaders of the party and the KPCC as well as freedom fighters are expected to turn up for the meeting which will be opened by the Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni.

However, the conference will warm up only on Saturday afternoon when party president Sonia Gandhi will address a huge meeting at the Nehru Stadium.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy arrived here late on Thursday afternoon and will be in the city until the conference is over.

Apart from Sonia Gandhi, several Central Congress leaders and Union Ministers will be arriving here on different days. A large number of Congress functionaries from the grassroots up to the KPCC as well as leaders of feeder organisations will be reaching the city.

The announcement of the election schedule has whipped up a sense of urgency and excitement among Congress leaders and activists.

The conference is expected to come out with the party's poll strategy and plan of action.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section