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Pawar to crystallise plans by next week

Expelled Congress leader Sharad Pawar today said he ''would definitely offer a viable alternative at the national level''.

Pawar, however, was non-committal on whether the alternative would be a front or a party. The political ideology of the proposed organisation or front would be similar to the Congress, he said.

According to him, it is 'slightly early' to say anything as he had to discuss the issue with his colleagues.

He also told the media in Pune that he would go to Delhi in two days. He said would meet his colleagues and then other like-minded people before finalising the strategy on the future status of his proposed party/ front.

He, however, did not identify the leaders he would be meeting.

The picture would be clear by next week, he said.

While the focus would be on Maharashtra, he said he would undertake a national campaign to explain his stand to the masses.

He said he had read reports of support extended by former prime minister V P Singh and a few others, but had not had any personal contact with any political leader since his expulsion by the CWC last night.

Asked to comment on the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council, Chagan Bhujbal's statement -- that 80 per cent of the legislators would back Pawar -- the former defence minister said the former has been in direct contact with the elected representatives, ''which I do not have''. It is his assessment, he said.

He refused to comment on whether there would be a split in the Maharashtra Congress unit. By and large, Congressmen in the state were unhappy with the CWC decision, he said.

Pawar justified the timing of the 'foreigner' issue raised by him. ''It was the right time,'' he said.

UNI

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