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Sonia shuts door on Pawar's objections to showcause notices

In a clear rebuff to Sharad Pawar, the Congress high command today indicated that it was unwilling to discuss with him the showcause notices issued to 10 legislators in Maharashtra for allegedly indulging in cross-voting in the recent Rajya Sabha elections. Ram Pradhan, the official Congress candidate, was forced to bite the dust, even though the party had the requisite numbers to ensure his victory.

Congress office-bearers close to the party general secretary in charge of Maharashtra, Madhavrao Scindia, pointed out that the high command is unwilling to discuss the matter with Pawar who reportedly said on Sunday that the show-cause notices were unwarranted. They contended that party president Sonia Gandhi was not inclined to give an appointment to Pawar if he wanted to meet her solely to discuss the Maharashtra crisis.

The chasm between the Congress president and Pawar appears to have widened after the party high command felt that the Maratha strongman was trying to enlist support among partymen over the showcause notices.

The high command has taken a dim view of Pawar's reported statement that he would ensure that the Congress Working Committee discussed the crisis. The high command feels that since it has already taken action against the 'erring' legislators, Pawar would only be adding fuel to the fire by raking up the issue.

It is learnt that a delegation of senior partymen met Sonia on Sunday evening and urged her to rebuff any attempts by him to discuss the issue with her. Even if Pawar manages to meet her, he will be curtly told that he should desist from interfering in party matters which are the sole preserve of the party president, Congress officials said.

With senior Congress leader from Maharashtra, Sushil Kumar Shinde, already expressing his disinclination to take up the PCC chief's post in the state, the high command is still weighing the pros and cons regarding the appointment of a new PCC chief. Ranjit Deshmukh had resigned after owning moral responsibility for Ram Pradhan's defeat. Former chief minister Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar is reportedly a front-runner for the post.

Meanwhile, in the wake of his defence of the 10 legislators who were served showcause notices, moves are already afoot against Pawar, who is the Congress leader in the Lok Sabha as well as the leader of the Opposition. Pawar's detractors, whose number is considerable, are said to have urged Sonia to carefully monitor his performance in the lower house of Parliament. If it does not meet the standards, Pawar's wings should be further clipped in order to teach him an appropriate lesson, Congress leaders pointed out.

EARLIER REPORTS:

MPCC chief Deshmukh goes for Pradhan's defeat, showcause issued to 12 Maharashtra MLAs
Maharashtra crisis threatens Sonia's hold over Congress
Sonia given names of suspect legislators
AICC team rues role of money power in Maharashtra RS elections
Jubilant Kalmadi vows to clip Sharad Pawar's wings

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