Kesri Chosen Cong President

He reminded the meeting that he had written asking that the AICC be called in a couple of weeks to elect a regular president.

AK Antony, the only other candidate who had wide support, told the meeting he was backing Kesri.

Outgoing president PV Narasimha Rao, who chaired, called each member into an adjoining room and sought his views. He then told the meeting that there was a consensus on Kesri. The meeting decided that Rao should continue as leader of the Congress Party in Parliament. Rao had resigned as president on Saturday after being summoned in the Lakhubhai Pathak cheating case.

Party insiders say Kesri assured Rao last week that he will continue as CPP

leader, but had earlier promised Sharad Pawar the same position - and the party presidentship too if Kesri could get to Rashtrapati Bhawan next year.

There was talk of reunifying the Congress. Kesri is understood to have sent messages yesterday to Madhavrao Scindia and GK Moopanar but an old animosity

may make him less willing to accommodate Arjun Singh.

At the meeting, Janardhana Poojary, who was quite emotional, RK Dhawan, Omen Deori and BP Maurya were among those who urged Rao to withdraw his resignation and the party to back him in his legal battles. Pranab Mukherjee, an invitee, said the party should have decided to fight politically when the hawala charges were made, if it wanted to back Rao now, as these loyalists urged.