Battlelines drawn for polls

She also declined to project herself as a prime ministerial candidate, saying the issue would be decided by the Congress MPs 8220;as is the usual practice when the time comes.quot;

Her carefully-crafted speech was a judicious mix of sentiment 8212; which had many in the audience wiping their eyes 8212; and bold challenge. And she made it clear that in the do-or-die battle ahead, her party had no room for doubters.

8220;Those who are with me must come wholeheartedly. Anyone with even the slightest doubt can go. I am not afraid,8221; she said to loud applause from her party workers. It was an open challenge to the closet dissidents in the Congress, especially the Working Committee.

The attack on those suspected of being disloyal was led today by Nagaland Chief Minister S C Jamir and Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee UPCC delegate Ammar Rizvi, who warned Sonia not to fall prey to 8220;coterie politics8221;.

8220;You have been let down by time servers around you,8221; declared Rizvi and urged her not to be 8220;taken in8221; by those who have lost touch with the villages of India. It was a clear indictment of the CWC, which many in the party feel is packed with 8220;rootless8221; members who cannot win an election.

The applause Rizvi drew underlined the hawkish mood of the party. Jamir too was cheered when he urged Sonia not to ignore state leaders who are 8220;the backbone8221; of the party.

Although Sonia is not expected to take immediate action on the demand for revamping the party organisation, she indicated that she was aware of the need for change. She said the recent attack on her and the party proved that 8220;reconstruction8221; was necessary.

Throughout the two-hour session, the spotlight did not move from Sonia. Her loyalists had obviously worked overtime yesterday to ensure that nothing marred an image-building exercise designed to create a larger-than-life profile of her.

Yesterday, some delegates had threatened to move a resolution demanding the resignation of the CWC, but the loyalists managed to defuse the move, though they could do nothing to prevent criticism by Jamir and Rizvi.

At the end of the day, Sonia had clearly demonstrated her hold over the party in the overwhelming obeisance paid by the AICC. The session passed a resolution thanking her for withdrawing her resignation and reaffirmed the party8217;s loyalty to her.

As one delegate admitted later, Sonia comes with a price tag, and her resignation drama had forced the party to decide whether it was prepared to pay that price. The near hysterical reception she received today demonstrated that the decision was a foregone conclusion.

8220;No Soniaji, No Congress,8221; announced a banner, summing up the party8217;s acceptance of its dependence on the Dynasty.