Meanwhile, the faction supporting Vice-President Sohal claims that as long as Sohal is in the executive, it is he who becomes the officiating president and commands the power to call meetings and no one else.

Dr B S Sohal, who is also expected to put in his papers in a day or two, said, “I have not accepted Dr Mahal’s resignation. Moreover, the general secretary cannot call any meeting without the consent of the vice-president.”

Senior PAU faculty member and former PAUTA president Dr A S Joshi said, “The issue should be brought before the general body for discussion. The breakaway group is playing a dirty trick by terming this as a dharna against the reluctance of the state government to implement the pay commission.”