Bengaluru, June 12 -- The Congress has stepped up preparations for the Karnataka Legislative Council biennial elections scheduled for June 18 by calling an important Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on June 16.

The meeting will be held at Wonderla Resort near Bidadi in Ramanagara district and will bring together the party's top leadership, ministers and legislators. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will preside over the meeting, which is expected to focus on ensuring the victory of Congress candidates in the Council polls.

Senior leaders, including Congress state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and members of the state cabinet, are likely to attend the gathering...