The AICC meet is a last-ditch effort by the party to persuade Sonia Gandhi to withdraw her resignation and, with the CWC finally agreeing to summon one, the mood in Congress circles lifted considerably today. The expectation is that Sonia will relent after the AICC adopts a resolution reiterating its support to her.

The meeting will be held at Talkatora Stadium and may culminate in a march to 10 Janpath. Several leaders feel that the AICC will have to do something dramatic to convince Sonia that the party is solidly behind her on the foreigner issue.

Today, Sonia came out of her residence for the first time and went round meeting party workers who have pitched tents along Akbar Road for the vigil they have started to pressureher into resuming office. This seemed to give the leadership hope that she may be reconsidering her decision.

A senior leader said that those meeting her on a daily basis sense a change in her mood. On the first day, she was confrontationist. Today, she seems to be listening and understanding. She is more responsive to their pleas.