The betel juice strained, unkempt but sprawling 100-year-old building that lies a stone’s throw from Chief Minister Mayawati’s home is being spruced to receive the Amethi MP. Select walls are being re painted, broken chairs replaced and posters redone.

For a party, which slumped to its worst ever performance in the May Vidhan Sabha elections, the visit will be a boost as Gandhi has confined himself to the family boroughs of Amethi and Rae Bareli on his appearances in the state. But now he is coming to attend a coordination committee meeting that will look at strengthening the party in the state. The meeting itself assumes significance for, coordination committee meetings have generally been held in Delhi.

According to party sources, the Lucknow meet is to put together a scheme for the revival of the party in the state. A 22-member coordination council with Gandhi as member has been set up.

Rahul Gandhi will visit Lucknow on November 12.

Chief Congress spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh hopes Gandhi’s presence will act as a binding force in a party that’s raked by infighting. “We will give him a rousing welcome,” Singh adds.

Besides Gandhi, the coordination Committee  comprises Digvijay Singh, Janardhan Diwedi , Mohsina Kidwai , all for former UPCC presidents, among others.