The most tantalising line was on coalition politics, with the Pachmarhi Declaration laying a different emphasis and Congress President Sonia Gandhi shifting it ever-so-vitally in her concluding address.

Said the Pachmarhi Declaration: ``Coalitions will be considered only when absolutely necessary and that too on the basis of agreed programmes which will not weaken the party or compromise its basic ideology.'' Here, the stress is on absolute necessity. Note, then, what Sonia says. ``The coalition phase at national-level politics reflects in many ways the decline of the Congress. This is a passing phase and we will come back again with full force and on our own steam. But in the interim, coalitions may well be needed. I have already stated in my opening remarks that we will not shirk from our constitutionalobligations as and when they arise.'' Thus, with one little shift, that coalitions may be needed in the interim, Sonia retained all options after three days of intense discussions on trying to emerge with a clear line on coalitions. There was more to come from her. ``In the last few months, I get the feeling that the country, fed up with over two years of non-governance, is waiting to give us another chance. I get the feeling that more and more people who moved away from us are once again coming around to the point of view that only the Congress has the experience, expertise, energy and enthusiasm to provide an effective government that will revive the stagnant economy, arrest price rise, get new investments flowing once again and improve our standing in the world.''

If that reads like a compressed election manifesto, the next two lines in Sonia's speech add to the intrigue. ``We should, however, not be complacent. But we must recognise that the tide seems to be turning''. So we have a strong remark on theephemeral nature of the coalitions, then a recognition of their short-term need and finally hope that the Congress could return to power on popular mandate.

That all this came after what was only the second brainstorming session in the Congress' 113-year history is but a pointer to continuing differences of opinion in the party, no matter how many hours leaders spend thrashing out issues. But on one issue there was no doubt: Sonia is the undisputed leader of the party. Sharad Pawar, who was recently seen to have made some half-hearted attempts at rivalling her, was limited to the foreign affairs discussion and played little part in the important political and organisational discussions.

Sonia couldn't resist an impish reminder of this. ``I cannot stress enough the absolute essentiality of unity and discipline in the party at all levels, including among top leaders,'' she said turning to the CWC members on the dais and unable to suppress a giggle. Over the last three days, Sonia has been witness to enoughwrangles between her top colleagues and this was a gentle warning. ``If we are united, nothing can stop us and we will meet any threat, overcome any obstacle and win any battle. I am sure we will work cohesively transcending narrow personal interests and keeping the larger good of the Congress and the country in mind,'' she added.

One curious aspect of the Pachmarhi Declaration was avoiding the mention of 33 per cent when referring to reservation for women. The Congress has in the past stressed on that figure but today, in the Declaration, it was not to be seen. All that the section on women says is the Congress regrets the Centre's failure to introduce the Women's Bill and that it commits itself to ``substantial enhanced representation'' of women in all echelons of the organisation and in distribution of tickets. Coming under the chairmanship of Sonia, ignoring the 33 per cent can at best be termed an oversight.

However, the party did make some firm commitments on the economic front. Like a return to the1955 line of socialism and placing poverty alleviation at the centre of its policy. Said the Declaration: ``The party reasserts its commitment to socialism and the socialistic pattern of society as spelt out at Avadhi in 1955. It reaffirms that removal of poverty and the empowerment of the poor as effective partners in the growth process is the essence of the party's economic policy.''

Manmohan Singh, whose liberalisation policy took a fair amount of stick, got a pat. ``The party appreciates the remarkable recovery and impressive economic achievements secured through the reforms between 1991-96. We commit ourselves to realisation of growth rates of seven to eight per cent per annum through the mixed economy model, adjusted pragmatically to meet the ends of growth with social justice,'' the Declaration said.

Organisational affairs, which took up most of the time here and provided fireworks, were mostly passed on to the party's committee to review the Congress constitution. The Pachmarhi camp cleared thesetting up of a Congress Election Authority of ``eminent, impartial and highly respected senior leaders to ensure free and fair elections at all levels.''

The important issue of barring people who defect and return to the fold was referred to the review committee as it involved amending the Congress constitution. Likewise, issues like raising the strength of DCCs, PCCs, AICC and the CWC were also referred to the review committee.

But this may not take much time to implement, if Sonia's direction is heeded. ``Some of the recommendations will require a review of our party constitution, a task which I am confident will be completed very soon.'' Emphasis was also laid on the revival of the party in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Tamil Nadu as essential to the party's overall well-being. Youth were promised adequate attention in the next millennium with programmes to attract the younger sections of the country to the party fold.

Population control, a pet theme of CWC member P A Sangma, was also given prominenceand the party decided that any member who becomes the parent of more than two children after January 1, 2000, would be ineligible for selection or election to any party office or for selection as party candidate for any election. The Congress thus has brought into action the two child policy.

The Declaration expressed fears that ``ulterior motives'' may be behind ``those piloting the wholly unnecessary proposal to review'' the Indian Constitution, a reference to the Bharatiya Janata Party. On foreign policy, the Congress said there was no need to decide on signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and decided to form two party working groups to deal with neighbourly relations and post Pokhran-II international relations.

The Declaration adopted the 35-point programme of action on agriculture as suggested by the Balram Jakhar group on agriculture. It also flayed the BJP and the Sangh Parivar's attempts to fan communalism in the country, vowing to fight it at any cost. Delegates to the camp were, however,ignored on one count. They wanted the party to once and for all clear the stand on the Babri Masjid demolition but the Declaration merely said the party wanted the issue to be resolved soon under the purview of the courts.

Pawar not against Sonia as PM

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sharad Pawar, today said he had no problem in projecting the Congress president Sonia Gandhi as the country's next prime minister.

Talking to reporters at Chhindwara his way back after attending the 3-day camp at Pachmarhi, Pawar said Sonia was the acceptable leader of all sections of the Congress.

The opposition leader said the issue of one-man-one-post also not relevant in the case of Sonia. The Maharashtra strongman's statement about Sonia Gandhi resumes significance in view of media reports about differences between them.