Alliances, economy to dominate Congress meet Jan 18-20

The last such session was held in 2003 in Shimla, before the Congress came to power in 2004 general elections. The United Progressive Alliance was formed after the poll.

According to party sources, the Jaipur meeting will see around 300 delegates from all over the country discuss pre- and post-poll alliances, women's empowerment and political and economic challenges facing the country on the first two days. The outcomes will be approved by an All India Congress Committee session to be attended by around 1,200 leaders Jan 20.

Achieving growth amid a slowdown in the economy and foreign policy issues are also likely to be debated during the Chintan Shivir, said the sources.

The various sub-groups, formed by the party to prepare discussion papers on the political, economic and social issues, have submitted their reports which will be reviewed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, said the sources.

Small groups of delegates will further deliberate on these discussion papers during the first two days of the Chintan Shivir. The AICC session on the final day is expected to pass some resolutions based on the outcome of these debates, said party sources.