NEW DELHI, MARCH 9: Sharad Pawar today said he was ``satisfied'' with Sitaram Kesri's decision to quit the Congress president's post.Without mincing words, Pawar said Kesri's decision was good for the future of the party. ``Kesri,'' he added, ``had decided a few months ago to leave the post. But we persuaded him to hold on in view of the approaching elections. In today's scenario, it is an encouraging move.''Pawar has more or less given up on his earlier attempts to form a Congress-UF Government at the Centre. ``The matter is not being discussed,'' was his curt reply to a query.When pressed, Pawar argued that the BJP, ``now that it has emerged as the single largest party'', will in all probability be called to form the Government.Though insisting that the rank and file of the Congress was with Sonia Gandhi, he declined to comment whether he himself was in the race for the coveted post of either the Congress president or the CPP chief. CWC member Ghulam Nabi Azad too welcomed Kesri's decision toquit the post of president.CWC members Ahmed Patel and AK Antony on Monday evening held a detailed discussion with Sonia Gandhi to work out an ``immediate'' plan of action in the wake of Sitaram Kesri offering to quit the post of Congress president.Reliable sources revealed that a large number of newly-elected Congress MPs have met Sonia in the past 48 hours. The exercise, it is learnt, started following Sonia's wish to interact with the MPs before taking any decision on CPP leader's post as well as party presidentship.M L Fotedar was also present along with Antony and Patel. Much significance is being attached to the meeting.Patel and Antony, it is learnt, urged Sonia to take a pre-emptive measure at the next CWC meeting itself. In all likelihood, a resolution could be passed handing over the party reins to her.
