'Strengthen party in states ruled by UPA allies'

New Delhi, Nov 28: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today asked the party units in the states where the UPA allies are in power not to take a ''back seat'' but strive to strengthen the organisation.

Even while reiterating her party's commitment to the ruling coalition at the centre, she underlined the need for maintaining the party's distinctive identity in these states.

''The UPA is a coalition to which we are deeply committed. But this does not in any way mean that strengthening of our oganisation in the states ruled by our allies takes a back seat,'' Ms Gandhi said while addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) in Parliament complex.

In this context, she reminded the party units in UPA allies-ruled states that ''we, as a party, must strive our utmost to maintain our distincitive identity in these states.''

Ms Gandhi reminded the party MPs that the Congress-led Manmohan Singh government, the first coalition experiment by the party at the centre, had crossed its ''midway milestone''. In this context, she sought to sensitise them on the need for consolidating and closely following the implementation of the government's flagship programmes such as Bharat Nirman, National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme and Urban Renewal Mission.

In a bid to create awareness among the people about the contribution of the UPA government ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections, Ms Gandhi asked them to propagate the government's initiatives in their respective constituencies and states.

She suggested that Finance Minister P Chidambaram have an interaction with the CPP on the Budget for 2007-08.

''It would be a good idea if the CPP were to organise an interaction during this session with the Finance Minister on the forthcoming budget,'' the UPA Chairperson said.

UNI