However, it kept options open on electoral alliances with regional parties like the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) without conditions.

Deliberating on the political scene at a brainstorming conclave here, some leaders favoured a coalition of regional parties while others cautioned the leadership against tie-ups with leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Laloo Prasad Yadav and Mayawati, terming them as ``unreliable''.

The party's draft declaration, which is to be released tomorrow, calls for a fresh strategy on the issue of regional alliances, particularly with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar and Samajwadi Party and BSP in Uttar Pradesh.

Senior leaders, however, said more than 90 per cent of the speakerson political and organisational matters opposed any tie-up with these parties in the two States.

The leaders, who opposed the party making an attempt to lead an alternative government at the Centre, stressed that nothing should be done for short-term gains.

Party President Sonia Gandhi, while inaugurating the session yesterday, had opposed regional allinaces and favoured strengthening of the organisation.

Former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, who arrived here today, did not participate in the debate. Gandhi had called on him and requested him to speak on either economic or international matters.

Sharp differences over economic policies also surfaced at the conclave, with Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Rajesh Pilot circulating a strong rejoinder criticising the economic reforms initiated by Dr Manmohan Singh, who is chairman of the All India Congress Committee economic affairs panel.

Five committees -- political, economic, organisational, foreign affairs and agriculture, headed by ArjunSingh, Manmohan Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Pranab Mukherjee and Balram Jakhar -- today submitted their reports which were discussed at the session.