Cong brass to go into huddle ahead of AICC meet

Its eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Congress has convened a high-level meeting here on Wednesday to decide on a campaign theme ahead of the AICC meeting scheduled for January 17.
Wednesday's meeting has been convened by senior leader AK Antony, who heads the party committee on alliances.
Apart from the AICC general secretaries, members of the party's campaign and manifesto committees, too, have been invited to take part in the deliberations at a time when Congress has put its poll preparations on the fast track.
Party sources, meanwhile, said that immediately following the AICC meeting, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi will hold state-wise consultations with party leaders on January 18 and 19.

A hectic schedule awaits Congress leaders as the meetings of Pradesh Election Committees are being convened on January 21 to decide the names of possible candidates.
Meetings of the Central Screening Committees for various states are expected to be held on January 27 to scrutinise the shortlisted candidates. The Central Election Committee is expected to convene between February 1 to 7.
Meanwhile, the party tonight constituted the Pradesh Election Committee for Bihar, headed by PCC Chief Ashok Chaudhary.
Congress General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed, CLP leader Sadanand Singh, AICC Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Khan, MP Asrarul Haq and former PCC chiefs Ram Jatan Sinha and Mehboob Kaiser have been included in the 30-member committee.