Congress President Sonia Gandhi will address the inaugural session at 9.30 am. As many as 250 Congress leaders from all over the country are attending the conclave, the first to be held after the Narora Convention 25 years ago.

Named `Vichar Manthan Shivir', the conclave assumes special significance in the emerging political scenario, as it aims to chalk out the party's future course of action in organisational, political, economic and foreign policy matters, besides agriculture and rural development.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesman Ajit Jogi said after the inaugural session, the participants would divide themselves into five groups to discuss these subjects, on which background papers had been prepared. The members could freely express their views during group discussions, to be held on September 4 and5.

Stating that the reports of these five groups would come up before the plenary for discussion, he said final reports on these subjects and the party's future strategies would be formulated. After detailed discussions, the conclave would issue the Pachmarhi Declaration.

The sub-groups on political and economic affairs, foreign policy matters, organisation and agriculture are headed by Arjun Singh, Dr Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Balram Jakhar respectively.

The camp's coordination committee chairman Naval Kishore Sharma told reporters at Bhopal yesterday that the delegates attending the conference would get adequate time and opportunity to discuss issues, as the sub-groups could sit together till the midnight of September 4.

Members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), former Union ministers, presidents of state units, Congress Legislative Party leaders and former governors are among the invitees. Former Congress presidents P V Narasimha Rao and Sitaram Kesri have alsobeen invited to participate in the session.

Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements have been made at the hill resort and neighbouring areas, as more than 20 invitees figure in the Z or Z-plus security category.

Security has also been tightened at Hoshangabad, Itarsi and other railway stations in the district and a strict watch is being kept on movements towards Pachmarhi. The police has also asked those in possession of licensed arms in the towns around Pachmarhi to deposit them.

The antecedents of 75 people, who visited the tourist resort after the announcement about Sonia Gandhi's participation in the programme, have also been verified. Similarly, anyone coming from outside is being subjected to strict scrutiny at various points before being allowed to proceed to Pachmarhi.

Police sources in district headquarters Hoshangabad said around 4,000 police personnel were being deployed at Pachmarhi for the duration of the camp. The special protection group have also reviewed the securityarrangements.

The Congress president is scheduled to arrive in Bhopal late this evening by a special flight. After the night's halt at the Raj Bhawan, she will reach here by helicopter tomorrow morning.