Rahul discusses campaign issues with CWC members

Bracing up for the Lok Sabha elections, members of the Congress Working Committee Friday discussed issues to be raised in the poll campaign with party vice president Rahul Gandhi also seeking suggestions from senior leaders for the party's manifesto.

Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said that the "informal meeting" of the CWC, the party's highest decision making body, discussed issues for the campaign.

"What will be the issues, he (Gandhi) talked with all the leaders," he said.

Gandhi presided over the meeting in which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were not present.

Party sources said it was the first meeting of CWC presided over by Rahul Gandhi and was an indication of his playing a more prominent role in guiding the party's strategy for the Lok Sabha polls, expected to be held April-May.

Dwivedi said that the party's manifesto was being prepared and Rahul Gandhi had Thursday met young leaders to seek their views.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who heads the party's manifesto committee, said after the meeting that Gandhi also sought suggestions and views concerning the manifesto.

Party sources said that CWC meeting discussed the ways to amplify the message of party's campaign.

"The meeting discussed about the message that party's campaign should give," said a party leader, who did not want to be named.

He said that Rahul Gandhi has been chosen as the face of the party for the Lok Sabha elections and some leaders were of the view that the message should be sent across more prominently.