Cong preaches coalition 'dharma' to allies

The party also made it clear that it would take on Left head on in the coming Assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala.

Clearly acknowledging that single party governance had become near impossible in the country, the Congress on Sunday reaffirmed its commitment to coalition politics but asked its alliance partners not to cross the limits of constructive criticism.

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The party also made it firmly clear that it would take on the Left parties head on in the coming Assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala.

The Congress "remains steadfast in its commitment to the coalition at the Centre and some states but nevertheless is determined that its state units work relentlessly for revival and return to power on their own steam," the draft political resolution moved by Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh said.

The AICC plenary session, being dubbed as a "political jamboree", turned into a forum for NDA-bashing as top leaders of the Congress party came down heavily on the "Sangh Parivar", appealing to all secular forces to come on a common platform to combat communal forces.

Amid an unprecedented security, Congress President Sonia Gandhi opened the AICC meeting this morning with a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, central ministers, the Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states and Congress Working Committee members were among those present at the ceremony.