Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi opened her Congress party conference on Thursday (13 September) with a strong attack on the former Janata government, accusing it of incompetence, corruption and indifference to national problems. Her speech was delivered at a time when opinion polls for the forthcoming mid-term general elections show her in the lead. Meanwhile, the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. E.L. Shakdher was discussing the elections with representatives of all major political parties.

SYNOPSIS: The meeting at the election commission was attended by politicians o all parties. Their aim was to lay the groundwork for India's mid-term elections. Delegates discussed the question of financing the election campaign and agreed on a code of conduct during the election period.

A leading role in the election will be played by the Janata Party and India's National Congress Party. Last year a faction of the National Congress broke away from Mrs. Gandhi's leadership to form the Official Congress which has now confirmed its election alliance with the Janata and approved a common manifesto.

Mrs. Gandhi called the pact suicide for the Official Congress. She dismissed the breakaway faction as "a small Rump", a contemptible remnant of parliament. The Party itself hit out hard against the Janata. Also a statement said India had lost its leading position of respectability and moral authority under two and a half years of Janata rule. Even in the Non-Aligned movement -- it went on -- India had come to play the role of a back bencher. Mrs. Gandhi received overwhelming support from her party for her attacks.