Sonia readies party for battle of ballots.

(From The Statesman (India))

Statesman News Service SRINAGAR, May 31. - Mrs Sonia Gandhi today asked the 15 chief ministers from her party to gear up for the forthcoming electoral battles by keeping communal forces at bay. The Congress's single-minded objective, she said, has been defeating the communal forces, for which she stressed the need to amend certain laws, including some under the Indian Penal Code. She was addressing Congress chief ministers and other AICC members at the end of a two-day meeting here. The party took up various social and political issues, but the focus was on communalism.

She urged the chief ministers to deal with an "iron hand" those in the administration who fail to control communal flare-ups. She also called for "prompt and uniform" compensation to all victims of communal violence. "We must not waver in our determination to deal with religious fundamentalism of all kinds and we must deal with those strictly who disturb social peace and harmony." The party president underscored the need for effective employment generation schemes, though she conceded that the chief ministers would not be able to do much without help from the Centre. She accused the Centre's policies of being responsible for the "grim employment situation" in the country, and expressed the hope that Congress-ruled states would enact laws to protect workers of the unorganised sector. "This must become a political campaign as well." On administrative reforms, she said the system needed a "systematic change" and that the government should set standards of transparency, accountability, probity and efficiency.

Mrs Gandhi also stressed the need for power sector reforms, saying the fiscal position of the states is linked to the success of the reforms. The Congress conclave highlighted the need for the three Es for the weaker section of the society - education, employment and empowerment. CONG open to alliances for state polls STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SRINAGAR, May 31. - The Congress today said that it was open to alliances with "secular-minded parties" for both the General Elections scheduled for next year and the Assembly polls due later this year in order to "defeat communal forces". Asked specifically about the possibility of a Congress tie-up with Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and Mr Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal, Ms Sonia Gandhi - here to address a Congress chief ministers conclave - said: "Ho Sakta Hain (it is a possibility)." "We have an open mind for both the October-November Assembly elections and next year's Lok Sabha polls," Mrs Gandhi said. Mrs Gandhi said the party had authorised PCC chiefs and Congress chief ministers of states going to polls in November this year to decide on electoral alliances with secular parties "according to their needs." "We have told our PCC chiefs to take the decisions about the alliances as per the need. If they find that there is a need to join hands with secular minded parties, they can do so", she said. Regarding the pre-poll alliance for the next years' general elections, Mrs Gandhi said the party has an open mind. To another question about the possibility of Congress having an alliance with Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal ...