The Congress party is planning to hold a brain-storming session at Surajkund on November 9, triggering speculation that the party could be bracing for an early election.

According to sources, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is under tremendous mental strain after attack on son-in-law Robert Vadra and repeated requests from prime minister Manmohan Singh to free him of his responsibility. While opting for an early general election is a way out of this crisis, the added advantage is that the Bharatiya Janata Party is a divided house, said sources.      

On top of the party’s agenda for the session in Surajkund will also be to discuss and finalise Rahul Gandhi’s plan of not forming alliance with DMK and NCP and go alone to polls in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. A senior leader of AICC told this correspondent that political stock-taking will be carried out with an open mind.

Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra Congress party presidents have sought special time to speak with their alliance partners in their states (DMK and NCP).

Top leaders, including prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, general secretary Rahul Gandhi, cabinet ministers and ministers of state with independent charge will meet to discuss the current political and economic situation and also review the stages of implementation of the party manifesto in various states.

AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said the meeting will be informal and no resolution is expected to be passed.

Another advantage that the Congress has in early Lok Sabha polls is that it can avoid the damages caused to the party’s image in the results of eight assemblies (Karnataka in June 2013, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi in December 2013 besides northeastern states) where anti-Congress sentiments are high among the electorate.