Loktantrik Congress president Naresh Agarwal, dubbing the Congress a congregation of sychophants, ruled out any possibility of returning to the parent party. The proposed front will take the shape of an alternative to the Congress party at the national level.

Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi leader Suresh Kalmadi and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee will also take part in the meeting. Agarwal said that Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) chief G.K. Moopanar and former Karnataka Chief Minister S. Bangarappa have also been invited to the meeting.

The idea of forming an umbrella organisation of Congressmen, who have parted company with the party in the recent past, came up during his meeting with Mamata Banerjee during the Loktantrik Congress' foundation day celebrations in Lucknow earlier this month, said Naresh Agarwal.

He cautioned the UttarPradesh Chief Minister, Kalyan Singh, against bringing in any legislation for making recitation of Vande Mataram and Saraswati Vandana in schools compulsory. Agarwal told media persons here that his party, which has six members in the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, will oppose any such move by Chief Minister Kalyan Singh. He, however, called the controversy ``unwarranted and the creation of a few elements for political advantage''. He pointed out that the State Government had not brought forth any such legislation so far.