The occasion was the merger of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the political outfit floated by a high-profile Rajya Sabha member and an arch rival of Pawar, Suresh Kalmadi into the Congress party. The Pawar baiters exhorted the partyworkers to work unitedly for its success in the coming Lok Sabha elections under the strong leadership of Sonia Gandhi. These leaders are planning to hold a rally at Pawar's hometown, Baramati in Pune district.

Kalmadi came down heavily on Pawar for the treachery and said that the Congress party would do well in Pune district, a stronghold of the Maratha leader. He admitted that he had committed a major mistake of allowing Pawar's re-entry into theCongress party through a "backdoor."

Former chief ministers SB Chavan and AR Antulay were quite vocal and said that it was good that Pawar had left the Congress party which would do well under Sonia Gandhi's leadership. Both Chavan and Antulay appealed to the All India Congress Committee not to ever think of admitting Pawar into the partyfold in future. They shared Kalmadi's views on committing a great mistake by admitting Pawar into it in December 1986.

All India Congresss Committee (AICC) general secretary Sushilkumar Shinde attacked Pawar for raising Sonia Gandhi's foreign born issue at the time especially when the party was rejuvenating under her leadership.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Prataprao Bhosale recalled Pawar's past and how he had backstabbed the Congress veterans like YB Chavan and Vasantdada Patil.

All India Congress Committee general secretary Madhavrao Scindia, who was the chief guest, expressed concern over "the way in which the country was heading under theBJP government." The situation in Kargil, Ladakh and Drass has reached a "flash point," he said.

"Dramas and stunts cannot be the basis of any foreign policy. It needs the foundation of strong policies and programmes. The BJP has none of this," Scindia said.