By IANS,
New Delhi: Around 15,000 to 20,000 party workers and leaders are expected to attend the Dec 18-20 Congress plenary being held at Burari, on the outskirts of Delhi. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi are likely to use a helicopter to travel to the venue, party sources said Tuesday.
The two leaders are likely to use the aerial route to reach Burari to avoid inconvenience to people. The Congress plenary is being held after four years.
The sprawling ground in Burari, which falls on the national highway connecting Delhi and Chandigarh, has been chosen as the venue as it will be able to accommodate the large gathering. The ground has been used in the past for religious gatherings.
Party sources said the subjects committee of the party will meet Dec 18 to consider resolutions on economic, political and foreign affairs. Party leaders said the subjects committee meeting, which will be attended by Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, is likely to take place in the Parliament House annexe.
Senior Congress leaders including party treasurer Motilal Vora, general secretary Janardan Dwivedi, and Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president, visited Burari ground Tuesday to review the preparations for the plenary.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Delhi Congress chief J.P. Agarwal and All India Seva Dal chief Mahendra Joshi were among those present.
Senior Delhi Police personnel and officials from the Special Protection Group also visited the venue to work out the security arrangements.
The last plenary was held in 2006 in Hyderabad.