New allies, Modi to figure high on Cong agenda in Jaipur meet

The brainstorming session is also likely to focus on the issue of women empowerment in the backdrop of the brutal Delhi gang-rape that shook the nation. A resolution in the matter is expected to be adopted at the meeting with a sub-committee already set up to prepare the draft paper.

The two-day shivir begins on January 18 in Jaipur. It will be followed by an AICC meeting on January 20.

A review of government's functioning is also on the cards with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh leading the coalition for nine-long years with Sonia Gandhi at the helm of UPA.

With Rahul Gandhi increasingly taking centre-stage, youth power will be the flavour of the Jaipur conclave. Over 100 delegates from Youth Congress and NSUI are among the 350 odd participants at the event.

There was virtually no role for the young leaders in Panchmarhi and Shimla conclaves held in 1998 and 2003, respectively.

Party leaders are projecting the conclave as an attempt to arrive at a "harmonious blend of youth and experience" to get the party's act together as a precursor to formation of UPA-III.

Congress leaders have given up the talk of 'going it alone', which dominated its discourse a few years back and seem to come round to the view that coalition era is to stay after a string of defeats including in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Modi could be a major talking point during the meeting in the wake of his electoral hattrick that has seen growing speculation about his projection as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate.

While the BJP has not made any announcement about the future role of Modi, Congress leaders feel that there is no denying the fact that the Gujarat strongman would be the star campaigner of the opposition party and would occupy the centre-stage. (More)