NEW DELHI: Crisis in the agriculture sector and internal security will be the dominant themes of the two-day seventh Congress Chief Ministers conclave starting on Saturday in Nainital, Uttaranchal.

With the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance Government close to the half-way mark of its five-year tenure, the Congress is concerned that while the economy is doing well, the agriculture sector continues to stagnate.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi's inaugural address is expected to set the tone for the conclave, which going by the past experience is conducted in a business-like fashion. Party sources said that Ms. Gandhi was worried that while there was gloom in agriculture, amidst a boom in the economy.

And with the Government coming under sharp attack both from the supporting Left parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Opposition, the Congress leadership has adopted a hands-on approach especially since the party's presence in the Agriculture Ministry is insignificant.

There is a sense of unease in the party over the manner in which affairs of the Ministry is being managed. Besides the key Agriculture portfolio, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, also has charge of Food and Civil Supplies.

Focus on agriculture

Focus on agriculture comes in the backdrop of the meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi had with Chief Ministers of party-ruled States in July on rising prices of essential commodities. One of the major steps the Government took after the meeting was to limit stock-holding by private parties enabling the administration to crack down on hoarders. The role of private players especially in procurement and forward trading is also a subject of discussion, and concern in a section of the higher echelons of the party. The controversy relating to setting up of special economic zones, especially its impact on shrinking agriculture land use, could crop up during the deliberations.

Manmohan to outline steps

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to outline the all-round measures undertaken by the Government to tackle the problems being faced by farmers. Significantly, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and Home Minister Shivraj Patil will be present as also the AICC general secretaries from the party side. Tourism Minister Ambika Soni will attend in her capacity as in-charge of party affairs in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Shamsher Singh Surjewala, who heads the party's Kisan Cell, will be present during the deliberations, party sources said.

Significance

Although it is not the first time that problems related to internal security will come up for discussion, this time around it assumes significance in the wake of Mumbai serial train blasts and Malegaon incident. Regular BJP barbs accusing the Manmohan Singh Government of being "soft'' on terrorism'' has also begun to hurt and the party wants steps to be taken to correct it. In this context, work of Union Home Ministry under Mr. Patil and those in States will come in for critical appraisal.

Informal discussion on the preparedness of the Congress for Assembly polls in Uttaranchal, Punjab and Manipur where the party has its Government would also be held. These States and Uttar Pradesh are expected to go to polls early next year.

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