Monday, January 23 2006 14:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: In a subtle message towards working for a single-party rule, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today told partymen that coalition does not mean abdication of party-building but admitted that there was 'no magic wand' to revive the party in North India, a crucial factor during days of its pre-eminence.

"We are not in power in many states. There we will have to show aggressive posture to face our political opponents and take up issues concerning the common man. Our revival in North India is very important and there is no magic wand. It is possible by collective effort of all and it is a long and arduous struggle," Gandhi said in her Presidential address at the Plenary Session.

Deliberating in detail on the revival in the North, shesaid that as party chief she was conscious of the task before her and "I am aware that I will have to concentrate more in these states".

Ahead of the Assembly polls in West Bengal and Kerala, she said that the Congress was opposing the Left in these states though they are supporting the coalition led by Congress at the Centre. In these states, we are opponents and we will fight as opponents.

"But coalition does not mean abdication of party building. There is no doubt in my mind that though we run coalition governments, we must at the same time strengthen our party at all levels", she said.

Noting that party workers felt that the coalitions in some states diminish opportunities for them, she said "Being in a coalition is a new experience for us. But we have adapted well and have the discipline and decorum of a coalition".

In her 40-minute speech, Gandhi did not touch upon the political crisis in Karnataka where the coalition led by it is in deep trouble due to the rebellion in its coalition partner JD-S.

The political resolution at the Plenary moved by HomeMinister Shivraj Patil skirted the issue of single-party rule adopted by the party since independence till a few years ago when it started singing the tune of 'coming together of secular forces' and ultimately succeded in its first ever experiment of power sharing at the Centre in May 2004.

This is the first Plenary since the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) came to power.

"Gandhi's reference to revival of the party in the North was significant because Congress has fallen on bad days in the Hindi heartland of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar since the emergence of the Mandal and Mandir issues in the late 1980's and is out of power since 1989.

The draft political resolution also spoke of the need of party's resurgence in the North as well as the South, where the party has been long in opposition.