Sonia Gandhi meets top Congress leaders today to discuss economic, political crises

New Delhi: The Congress' highest decision-making body, its Working Committee (CWC) will meet today to discuss the economic and political crises that the UPA government finds itself mired in. Party president Sonia Gandhi will chair the meeting, which will include CWC members, chief ministers of Congress-ruled states and congress legislature party leaders from the states it does not.

High on the agenda, sources say, is a presentation on the economic situation by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, where he is expected to, among other things, explain the universally unpopular decision to allow a steep hike in petrol prices.

On May 24, state-owned oil companies announced a hike of Rs. 7.54 a litre in petrol prices - the steepest increase ever. This Saturday, after a fortnightly review, the oil marketing companies announced a reduction of Rs. 1.68 per litre in petrol prices, excluding taxes. The move came as some relief for consumers battered by double-digit inflation, but the political pressure on the government is unlikely to ease. It has been attacked on the issue of the price hike by all political parties including allies like the Trinamool Congress and the DMK. Even some Congress leaders were said to have spoken in strong words against the hike and the party had officially said it hoped the government was considering some measures to ease the burden on people. Press Trust of India reports that the party could pass a resolution at the meeting calling for effective steps to provide relief to the people who are battling rise in prices of essential commodities.

Sources say the Congress president is also expected to discuss the Antony Committee report on the Congress' poor show in assembly elections in five states earlier this year. This is the first CWC meeting after those elections in UP and four states and the Congress is determined not to repeat its electoral errors in elections to other crucial states at the end of this year. Leaders from poll-bound states like Karnataka, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh will be asked to detail their preparedness for the elections to be held in their states.

The Congress meeting comes soon after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior ministers of his government came under fresh attack from the team of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare; the charges of corruption saw the PM make a rare and impassioned defence. With less than two years left for the 2014 General Elections, the Congress is expected to start working out its strategy to regroup and rebuild in time to meet that electoral challenge.

It is likely to take some heart from main opposition party, the BJP's strategy exercise in Mumbai a few days ago, where an intended show of strength and unity turned into an embarrassing revelation of the deep differences within that party.

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