Congress president to meet state party leaders today

Mumbai: After a major defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress party has started its preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi will discuss the party's planning for the Assembly elections with state leaders in Delhi on June 27.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, said that All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge has informed the state leaders that the meeting with Mr Gandhi is scheduled on June 27.

According to party sources, Mr Gandhi will hold discussions with state leaders on the groundwork to be carried out for the upcoming Assembly polls. The discussions will also revolve around the former Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil’s recent defection from the party and of the steps to be taken to avoid any such incidents ahead of the elections.

Apart from Mr Wadett-iwar, state congress president Ashok Chavan and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Balasaheb Thorat will also attend the meeting.

“During the meeting, a report on the Lok Sabha election results will also be submitted. Discussion will be held on the impact of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) on the votes of the Congress,” a senior Congress leader said.