Rahul Gandhi-as-PM candidate demand at Cong Chintan Shivir

Conflicting views on alliances, including the demand for going it alone in some states, and a review of the decision of diesel price decontrol were among a host of issues raised at the Chintan Shivir, the two-day conclave that will be followed by a day-long session of AICC on Sunday.

MPs Raj Babbar, Avtar Singh Badana and some other members made the demand for Rahul as PM at the strategy meet attended by significantly over 150 members of the Youth Congress and NSUI delegates who were invited at the instance of Rahul Gandhi.

A strong demand for stern resolution against Pakistan and an early decision on Telangana were also made during the discussions which also saw Rahul advocating on-line membership facilities at block level and ruing that party workers at district and block levels are not getting adequate attention.

The discussion on the issue of women empowerment also saw a strong demand for passage of the long-pending women reservation bill which seeks to provide 33 percent reservation in Parliament and assemblies.

While all women members, including Union Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, favoured its early passage, AICC secretary Praveen Davar, while making a strong pitch for it, said the clearance of the bill should not be the responsibility of only women members and that it was time male members in the party also treat it on a priority basis. (more)