Congress mahapanchayat in Kochi on March 10

KOCHI: As many as 8,000 local body members of the Indian National Congress will join together here in March for a Mahapanchayat, which would be the first of its kind in the state. Defence Minister A K Antony will inaugurate the meet on March 10. The Mahapanchayat will deliberate on various issues related to the performance of local bodies, organising committee convener N Venugopal said.  Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, UDF convener P P Thankachan, MPs and MLAs would attend the one-day meet. A discussion on the topic ‘The utilisation of plan funds through local bodies,’ would be attended by  Planning Board Vice-Chairman K M Chandrasekhar and Planning Board members C P John and G Vijayaraghavan.