Jubilant Kalmadiguns for Pawar

Kalmadi was addressing the members of the Pune Vikas Aghadi PVA, a local political outfit he had launched four months ago, before unsuccessfully contesting the Lok Sabha polls.

Kalmadi, who arrived here this morning from Mumbai for the first time after he won the Rajya Sabha seat, was accorded a grand welcome by his supporters at the Pune Railway station. A majority of the PVA corporators and elected office bearers at the Pune Municipal Corporation PMC, including Mayor Vatsala Andekar, were present on the occasion.

Kalmadi said that during the next two years he would undertake an extensive tour across Maharashtra and would hold talks with the disgruntled independent MLAs who had left the Congress over the 8220;bitter experience8221; of working with Pawar.

Elaborating, he said that he would call on Dilip Sopal and other senior members of the Samajwadi Congress party, besides the independent MLAs, urging them to join MVA.

He appealed to the PVA men to gear up for the next Assembly Polls with new vigour and enthusiasm pointing out to them this was the right time to strike at Pawar who had lost credibility as a leader.

8220;The Baramatikar has fled to London. The Congress inquiry committee is in Mumbai. And, I am here before you having scored a victory. Things change with time,8221; a proud Kalmadi said, adding Bal Ajit8217; 8211; referring to Sharad Pawar8217;s nephew and MLA Ajit Pawar 8211; , was now crying 8220;Uncle please save me8221;.

8220;The senior leader at the Lok Sabha had camped in Mumbai for over a fortnight with the sole aim of seeing me vanquished. Rumours that I had purchased the MLAs were spread by him. However, today he has fallen in the pit dug for me. Now his fate will be decided by the inquiry committee and Sonia Gandhi,8221; he said.

The one-time protege and now arch-rival of Pawar said that he failed to understand what grudge Pawar had against him. Kalmadi said that he had always respected Pawar and on three occasions in the past, he had taken the lead in mobilising MPs to back Pawar who was then aiming for the prime ministership.

8220;However, you can take the horse to the water, but, you cannot make him drink,8221; Kalmadi quipped, adding, 8220;I have realised that he Pawar always has a personal agenda over and above the party agenda.8221;

The Rajya Sabha member said that despite his defeat the Lok Sabha polls from Pune he was committed to the development of the city and would use his discretionary funds, Rs 12 crore in the six years tenure, for development work in Pune.

Earlier, addressing the meeting, Mayor Andekar said that Kalmadi8217;s victory has ensured that the PVA would be at the helm of affairs at the PMC. Leader of the house at the PMC, Chandrakant Chhajed said that March 3, 1997 8211; when the results of the Lok Sabha polls were announced 8211; was a 8220;black day8221; in the history of Pune.

8220;Since March 3, all the development works in the city have come to a standstill. With Kalmadi8217;s election to Rajya Sabha, Puneites will feel relieved,8221; Chhajed said. Former mayor Ali Somji, ex-corporator Shrikant Shirole, Shridhar Madgulkar and several other Kalmadi supporters also addressed the meeting. A huge procession was taken out from the railway station to Kalmadi House.