Sonia asks party leaders to gear up for next general elections

New Delhi, Mar 6 (UNI) Congress President Sonia Gandhi today asked the party leaders to consolidate and project the new initiatives launched by the ruling UPA while reminding them that the next general elections are just two years away.

''We are now more than half way through our five-year term...all of you should effectively communicate to your constituents the significant increase in financial outlays effected by the UPA government in the past three years in sectors such as agriculture, rural development, health, education, irrigation and social welfare,'' she said, while addressing the General Body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party here.

Referring to the party's poll debacle in Punjab and Uttarakhand, Ms Gandhi said: ''We must not allow ourselves to get distracted from our path either by electoral swings that are inevitable in a democracy or by the disruptive machinations of the Opposition.'' She said the UPA government's flagship programmes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act were beginning to have a salutary impact. ''Each one of these programmes has a specific focus on alleviating poverty, increasing employment opportunities and making growth more equitable.'' She said the Railway and General Budgets demonstrated the continuing priorities of the government and reflected the commitments of the manifesto of the Congress.

Ms Gandhi said she had been happy with the emphasis that had been accorded to the revival of agriculture, to expanding secondary and university education, and to improving the quality of rural health care.

''We had made a beginning in social security for workers in the unorganised sector and I hope this will be expanded soon,'' she added.

She commended Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was also present, for taking the initiative to launch the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme.

Ms Gandhi said the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act would be extended to 330 districts from the present 200.

''From the feedback that I have received from those districts where the Act has been implemented transparently and honestly, the impact has been quite substantial,'' she emphasised.

Ms Gandhi asked the MPs to give priority to pending bills pertaining to economic and social reforms.

In this context, she cited the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Amendment Bill, the Communal Violence (Prevention Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, the Labour Laws Amendment Bill, the Judges (Inquiry) Bill and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill.

UNI