Kalmadi8217;s clout on test

PVA sources said Kalmadi is expected to hold negotiations with the BJP and Shiv Sena leaders in the next few days when the entire package of the elections to the office-bearers including mayor, deputy mayor, standing committee chairman and chairman and deputy chairman of education board was likely to be worked out.

The sources admitted that the BJP and Shiv Sena were expected to take a hardline and demand a major share in view of the fact that several PVA corporators were eager to join the Congress. Congress leaders maintain that at least ten corporators were in touch with the party. They said PVA corporators were not defecting because they fear the Anti-defection Act.

Congress sources said the party was thinking of a plan to engineer defection in the PVA to further marginalise Suresh Kalmadi. They said PVA corporators were highly disillusioned since they feel their careers were uncertain. PVA sources, while admitting largescale disillusionment among their corporators, fear they may defect if Kalmadi failed to select the right candidates. They said an exodus was certain if Kalmadi chose the wrong corporators.