New Delhi, November 16
In the line of fire for recent electoral reverses, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will tomorrow lead the party's official delegation in the two-day international conference that seeks to celebrate the Nehruvian legacy of pluralism and secularism.

The conference, to be attended by leaders from 16 nations, including former President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai who arrived today, will see the participation of a nine-member Congress delegation which has a strong representation from the party’s youth wing.

Indian Youth Congress chief Rajeev Satav, former presidents Randeep Surjewala and Ashok Tanwar and leader Sushmita Dev are part of the official delegation. Former ministers Veerappa Moily and KV Thomas, AICC general secretary Ambika Soni and MA Khan are the other members of the delegation.

Haryana is most well-represented in the delegation having Tanwar, Haryana Congress president and Surjewala, Kaithal MLA.

Politically, the conference will be used by the Congress to send a message of strength to its cadres and also the BJP and its allies who have not been invited. Other political parties, including the NCP, which ditched the Congress in Maharashtra to back the BJP, have been invited. Politicians who have confirmed their participation in the event include TMC president Mamata Banerjee, NCP's DP Tripathi, BSP's Satish Mishra, JDU president Sharad Yadav, RJD president Lalu Prasad, CPM leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury and CPI's D Raja. SP chief Mulayam Singh is yet to confirm his presence.

Another senior leader from the region to be assigned an important role in the conference is former Railway Minister Pawan Bansal, who has been named secretary of one of the two working sessions scheduled for tomorrow.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will open the conference with former Commerce Minister Anand Sharma acting as its secretary general, Rajya Sabha MP Mani Shankar Aiyar as the rapporteur general and AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik as secretary.

The Congress has designed the conference to engage world leaders on issues that were close to Nehru's heart. Topics for the two-day session include "Inclusive Democracy and People's Empowerment" and "Nehru's World View and Democratic International Order for the 21st century". The paper in the latter session will be presented by former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.

The Congress will use the conference to display its strength with a galaxy of world leaders attending the event. Among those who have already arrived are Hamid Karzai, former President of Ghana JJohn Kufour; former Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba and Bhutan Queen Sorji Wangmo Wangchuck.

The delegation of the African National Congress which has arrived includes veteran freedom fighter and a close associate of Nelson Mandela Ahmed Kathrada. The Congress is also awaiting arrival of the Bangladeshi group which is expected to comprise general secretary of the Awami League Ashraf Islam and chief adviser to Bangladesh PM Gowhar Rizvi. From Pakistan, human rights activist Asma Jehangir has arrived.