The PCC general secretary and spokesman Manak Agrawal, however, ruled out any electoral alliance between the Congress and the CPI. He said that the chief minister had the right to express his views from whatever platform was available to him.

Inaugurating the AIYF seminar on the rights of the youth, Digvijay said that it was unfortunate that the ruling party at the Centre drew its inspiration from communal ideology and the tragedy was that this party had been helped to achieve power by those ``friends'' who were considered secular. The chief minister congratulated the West Bengal government for diligently keeping a check on the communal forces. The political resolution adopted at the PCC executive meeting noted withsatisfaction that the leadership of the Nehru-Gandhi family was once again available.

``The Congress party has acquired new energy, enthusiasm and courage under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi. This is the occasion when we should once again reach out to the people and convert it into a party which serves the people.''