Monday, February 14 2005 10:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Congress yesterday (Feb 13, 2005) claimed a majority of the States would come under the rule of the party or its United Progressive Alliance (UPA) allies after the current round of Assembly polls in Bihar, Haryana and Jharkhand and came out with a five-point agenda mixing reforms with pro-poor measures for the Manmohan Singh Government to pursue.

"Buoyed by the successful campaign appearances of party president Sonia Gandhi and surveys that predict a favourable outcome in Haryana, Jharkhand and Bihar, the party said with the completion of the current round of Assembly elections in the three State "the Congress will have party nominees or ally nominees as Chief Ministers in the majority of the States".

The Congress is facing the prospect of the upcoming Budget session in Parliament with a renewed vigour and confidence", All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary Tom Vadakkan said in a release.

He said that the Congress is "pleased that its growth with equity platform that echoes in the UPA Common Minimum Programme (CMP) is resonating with voters".

The upcoming conclave of Congress Chief Ministers will be in many ways an opportunity to assess progress and public opinion "through the length and breadth of India", Vadakkan said.

The party announced a five-point blue print for governance consisting of integration with the global economy, better targeting of subsidies, emphasis on tackling poverty through employment guarantee scheme, fast track programme on primary education and public health, more accountability and transparency in civil services to enhance governance.

The party also suggested a 'farsighted' foreign policy stressing economic interdependece with South Asian nations and increase trade with China and South Asia.

It also advocated the growing global presence based on growing confidence among the people and networking with the Indian diaspora.