Cong CMs conclave to highlight NDA's failures, agrarian crisis

The Congress chief ministers conclave here on June 9 is expected to be an attempt to take the sheen out of the first anniversary celebrations of the Narendra Modi government with issues like agrarian crisis likely to be raised.

The "neglect" of the social sector by the BJP-led dispensation as also its "failure" to address the problems of farmers are expected to be taken up, party spokesman R P N Singh told reporters.

Noting that Congress President Sonia Gandhi has always been interacting with party chief ministers, he said that the issues over which the Congress has been agitating inside and outside Parliament will be taken up at the conference.

The conclave being held amid reports that speak of a deficient monsoon in some parts, is expected to discuss ways and means on how to best reach out to people, especially those in the countryside.

Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi will be present at the deliberations being held at AICC headquarters.

The conclave is the first since the Congress lost power at the Centre in May last year.
Congress is in power in nine states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Sonia Gandhi, who has been at the helm since 1998, had started the practice of organising such party chief ministers conclave when the Congress was in Opposition at the Centre.

The meet is expected to be utilised by the Congress to mount attack on the Modi dispensation on issues concerning states.

Already the Congress President has targetted the Centre and the Prime Minister in Parliament accusing it of "obstinate arrogance".

Sometime back, she had marched to Rashtrapati Bhavan along with 14 leaders of Opposition in protest against the controversial land acquisition bill.