"On one hand, there are cases of farmers who are driven to suicide because of indebtedness and, on the other hand, NPAs running into thousand crores are piling up," a senior AICC member pointed out. In this context, it was felt, firm action would send out a positive political message, similar to the path-breaking move by Mrs. Indira Gandhi on removal of privy purses and bank nationalisation.

This was among a host of issues which figured in the Finance Minister's two-hour interactive session with party functionaries meant primarily to get their inputs for the next annual budget. Mr Chidambaram is the first Congress Finance Minister to hold such pre-budget deliberations with party office-bearers.

AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni said today's meeting was convened essentially to enable party functionaries to give their political inputs and to emphasise that the commitments made in the Congress election manifesto and the government's CMP find place in the budget. The budget, she felt, should make a political statement and that people regard it as a first step towards the fulfillment of the election promises.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Chidambaram said this exercise, held at the instance of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had provided a flavour of what the grass-root expects from the budget. The Finance Minister, who heard out nearly 30 speakers, said there was general agreement on six-seven broad areas requiring priority attention.

These, he said, include agriculture, agriculture credit. universalisation of health services, substantial expansion of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, strengthening of the midday meal scheme, quick roll out of the food-for-work programme, addressing concerns of weaker sections and ensuring creation of jobs along with growth.

"I assured everybody that their views will be reflected susbtantially in the annual budget," Mr Chidambaram told reporters after the meeting.

Today's meeting was also an exercise in improving government-party coordination. Earlier, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and information and Broadcasting Minsiter S. Jaipal Reddy were invited for similar interactive sessions.