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Congress block presidents meet today

By Javed M. Ansari

NEW DELHI MARCH 27. The stage is set for a two-day national convention of Congress block presidents, beginning tomorrow. The first exercise of its kind, the meet is expected to set the ball rolling, for the party's poll preparations.

About 8,000 will attend the convention, and the exercise, insofar as numbers are concerned, is second only to a plenary session of the party.

This is also the first time that the block presidents have been given so much importance and prominence. The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, has written to all of them inviting them to the convention. A questionnaire has also been sent asking them to detail the issues and areas of concern for the party.

The exercise is a brainchild of Ms. Gandhi. Though the block presidents form the core of the party's organisational strength, the interaction of the central leadership has so far been limited to the AICC and PCC members. The AICC is now in giving the block presidents their due. The party has short-listed a host of issues such as ``corruption and misrule'' by the BJP-led NDA Government, women's empowerment, problems relating to SCs/ STs, youth and farmers. Each PCC has prepared a list of six to eight speakers who will articulate their views and the positions of their region and the State.

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