Pawar game in full cry

Pawar claimed that Kesri was flouting every known rule in the book and Kesri replied that Pawar was trying to spread confusion in the party by making bogus’ charges. The two main contenders thus lost no time in stepping up the ante and are slated to release their respective manifestoes on how to revive the party. Also on the anvil are fullscale tours of the country, which both have not done even in pressing times in the past.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister, AR Antulay, who was appointed Pawar’s campaign spokesman, accused Kesri of attempting to play a “big trick and fraud” by seeking to postpone PCC chiefs elections, also scheduled along with the presidential election.

Kesri, on his part, regretted to reporters that a contest was forced on him as he was always in favour of the party tradition of consensus. “When the Congress tradition of consensus is challenged by someone, one is compelled to fight.”

He also ridiculed those who were levelling charges of bogus’ elections, saying they themselves were becoming candidates and seeking votes from those who have been elected through such an exercise.

“Is it not an insult to those who have got elected. Those who have won should get a treatment of honour and respect,” he said.

Asked about complaints from those in the fray for the party presidentship that they have not received the full list of voters, Kesri said that in view of the direction of the election commission, the polls had to be advanced and held in a very tight schedule.

The charges against Kesri today were mainly that he was violating the model code of conduct, grossly misusing his position, asking party spokesperson V N Gadgil to double-up as his spokesperson too till the party polls were over, appointing Ajit Jogi incorrectly’ as his Bhopal spokesman and not making available the complete list of delegates to the election to his rivals. Kesri denied everything.

Pawar announced a tour of 13 state capitals in an attempt to win over votes in his fight against Kesri and the latter indicated he would follow suit if the heat was turned on. Pawar’s effort will take him across the country from May 31, beginning from the south onward to the east, north and western capitals of the country.

For over a week Pawar will try to win over PCC delegates in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Calcutta, Guwahati, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Patna, Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal and lastly Mumbai.

How much Pawar will achieve is not clear but this is his first major gambit since moving to national politics from Maharashtra.

By announcing a serious schedule, he is clearly attempting to reverse his image of a backtracker who can’t be taken seriously. Master strategist that he is, Pawar was careful to hold out the olive branch to Rajesh Pilot.Pilot, in a separate press conference, stressed that Congressmen go by their conscience and vote for him.

Pilot claimed that since he was the first and most consistent opponent of Kesri and Pawar was a fence-sitter, there was no question of him opting out. However, this did not upset Pawar who cited him as his candidate for second preference votes, should Pilot insist on contesting.

Amid all this, reports said Sonia Gandhi was being flooded with complaints from all quarters on the wrongs perpetrated in the election of PCC delegates. Apparently Sonia Gandhi is keeping a watch on the situation, Congressmen said today.

However, the Pawar camp is unsure whether the election will take place at all on the appointed day. Antulay took the opportunity at Pawar’s residence today to voice fears that the PCC elections have already been deferred and that the Congress president’s poll will follow suit.