The party also said its existing alliance with the partners of the ruling coalition would continue. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, an apex decision making body of the party. The Congress president Sonia Gandhi had called the meeting of the CWC to formulate strategy for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

“No nation-specific but state-specific alliance would be formed for the next Lok Sabha elections. Existing alliance with our UPA partners would continue,” said Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi.

The CWC, which deliberated upon the electoral strategy for about four hours, however, didn't take up the subjects like elections plank and campaign. The manifesto and publicity committees of the party would fix these issues at a later stage.

This was the first meeting of the party's highest decision-making body in the recent past in which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had not participated as he has recently undergone a coronary by-pass surgery.

Dwivedi said the current political situation in the country and the strategy of the party for the Lok Sabha elections were discussed at the meeting.

The forthcoming general elections will witness a three-corner contest between the Congress-led UPA, BJP-led NDA and the Left parties, which are trying to form a third alternative along with several regional parties like PDP and TRS.

Gandhi, who is also the UPA chairperson, has already stated that the Congress would fight the elections as part of a coalition. She had also given clear indications that the UPA would go to the polls projecting Singh as its prime ministerial candidate.

The CWC, however, skipped the discussion on the claims of various UPA allies like the SP, RJD and NCP for seat-sharing in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra respectively.

The four states - UP, Bihar, Maharashtra and West Bengal together will send 212 members to the Lok Sabha and it is crucial for the party to perform well in these states along with their allies to retain power at the Centre.#