Congress meet today, discussion on reforms, Telangana, Rahul's role likely

New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee will meet on Tuesday to take stock of the present political scenario, following the exit of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress from the UPA.

While there will be a discussion on the road ahead for the Congress, the CWC chaired by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, will also look at solving the long-standing demand of the creation of separate state of Telangana. TRS chief K Chadrashekhar Rao has been camping in Delhi hoping for a formal announcement from the Centre on Telangana.

The CWC will also examine the impact of the present economic reforms being carried out. Some Congress leaders have been openly critical of the decision of hiking the prices of diesel and putting a cap on subsidised LPG.

There could also be a discussion on a larger role for Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi in the party as well.

The meeting is also significant as it is the first interaction of the CWC in the wake of the CAG report on the coal block allocation issue in which it has spoken of "undue benefits" to private players to the tune of Rs 1.86 lakh crore.

Amid BJP demands for resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress has consistently rejected charges of any wrongdoing in the matter and had accused CAG Vinod Rai of having a political agenda like one of his predecessors TN Chaturvedi.

Chaturvedi's report on the Bofors issue back in the late 1980s had led to the entire Opposition resigning from the Lok Sabha. Mr Chaturvedi had later joined the BJP and become an MP, and later a governor.

The AICC has also highlighted "repeated errors" being manifested in CAG reports, wondering if the national auditor was "misusing" the credibility ordained to it by the Constitution.

The ruling party had also held the CAG as much responsible as the BJP for the disruption of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on the coal allocation issue.

Replying to questions, party spokesperson Manish Tewari on Monday said the Congress and the government were ready for a debate with the opposition on any issue, including the coal issue, FDI in retail and the reform initiative. "We are sure our offer will go unaccepted", he said.

(With additional information from PTI)

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