The Congress Working Committee on Friday, is likely to take a tough stand on the so-called civil society representatives in the face of a government-team Hazare standoff over the inclusion of the prime minister in the ambit of the lokpal bill.
The meeting, called suddenly by Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi "to take stock of the political situation", is a follow-up of the Congress's consultations with its UPA partners and comes ahead of the July 3 all-party meeting on the Lokpal bill, the Parliament's monsoon session from August 1 and Hazare's proposed fast from August 16.
The party, which has so far not spelt its stand, is expected to back the government in keeping out of the Lokpal's domain, the PM, higher judiciary and the conduct of MPs inside Parliament.
Pranab Mukherjee is likely to brief the CWC on the talks with Hazare's team.