Piqued Congmen may join Pawar camp

PUNE, MAY 26: Irked by the high command's decision to readmit Suresh Kalmadi of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi MVA in the party, a group of i...

PUNE, MAY 26: Irked by the high command8217;s decision to readmit Suresh Kalmadi of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi MVA in the party, a group of influential Congress corporators and leaders is seriously considering joining hands with expelled Congress leader Sharad Pawar.

Party sources admitted that several corporators and leaders were highly disturbed over the manner in which Kalmadi was allowed to return to Congress. They fear that Kalmadi, after officially merging his political outfit into the Congress on June 2, would dominate party affairs and local politics as in the past.

These leaders are particularly disappointed because Kalmadi8217;s announcement came a day after they had communicated their opposition to his return to the party leaders. A prominent Congress leaders told The Indian Express that the leaders, unaware of the ground realities, could not expect us to work with Kalmadi, who had contested last election against the Congress.

A section of the Congress leaders is also highly disturbed over themanner in which Kalmadi lambasted Pawar at his press conference on Monday. These leaders fear Kalmadi8217;s belligerent stand against Pawar might boomerang and could create sympathy for him Pawar.

Realising the political situation emerging after Kalmadi8217;s admission in the Congress, the Pawar camp managers have already opened a channel with disgruntled party leaders. The sources said a prominent Pawar associate had telephonic conversation with a number of Congres corporators during the past two days. The Pawar camp was trying to convince them that they had no future in Congress because Kalmadi would take vindictive stand against those, who had deserted Congress with them.

The sources said a group of influential Congress leaders had a meeting till late night to chalk out further course of action. Earlier, in the day, these leaders also had a telephonic talk with Pawar.

In another move to checkmate Kalmadi, a few Congress corporators have decided to call a meeting of party corporators to select the newleader in the house before merging MVA with the Congress. The party has to choose new leader since Ulhas Dhole-Patil has joined Pawar camp. The sources said the meeting would be called by Arvind Shinde, party8217;s deputy leader in the house, to preempt Kalmadi8217;s move to install the man of his choice on the post.

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Sensing the trouble lying ahead, the Kalmadi men also have swung into action. Mayor Datta Gaikwad and Leader of the House Chandrakant Chhajed are holding negotiations with various Congress corporators, who they feel would join Pawar camp. The sources said Pawar camp has so far collected 14 signatures to form a separate group in the municipal corporation. They expect more corporators to join them in view of the changed political scenario.