New-look Congress office awaits Rahul's maiden visit

Lucknow, Nov 2 (UNI) After a gap of ten years, the state Congress headquarter here is being renovated for the first ever meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Congress cordination committee on November 12 to be attended by party general secretary and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi.

This will be the first visit of Mr Gandhi to the state party headquarters after he joined politics in 2004 before the Lok Sabha elections.

Party's spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh said here about 20 delegates would attend the high-level cordination committee to chalk out the policies of the party in the state.

''The meeting will also launch the party's preparation for the Lok Sabha elections in the state'', he added.

All the former state presidents, former MP Chief Minister and in-charge of UP Digvijay Singh and party general secretary Mohsina Kidwai would participate in the day-long delibrations of the cordination committee.

Meanwhile, labourers are working round -the- clock on the renovation of the state headquarters here, being done after a decade.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi had last visited this party office in 1999 when she casted her vote in the AICC elections during a controversial election between her and senior leader Jitendra Prasada.

Rahul had touched Lucknow airport during his visit to Amethi and Rae Bareli but it is for the first time he will go the state party headquarter.

The state headquarter was purchased in an auction by Congress in 1978 and it was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Mr Singh said the hectic preparation was underway for a historic welcome of Mr Rahul Gandhi on November 12. Several gates would be erected between the Airport and the state headquarters.

UNI