While Pawar made the announcement in Pune, Sangma and Tariq expressed themselves on similar lines here in the capital. The three leaders are likely to meet here soon to discuss details.

The new move clearly spells a re-alignment of political forces on the eve of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections touching off speculation that even the newly-formed national democratic alliance of the present ruling coalition may be affected.

While Pawar and his two colleagues refrained from naming parties and individuals who could join the emerging new front, there were unconfirmed reports that they had already started contacting parties like Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, Ramakrishna Hegde's Lok Shakti (both of which are currently part of the NDA), Jaylalitha'sAIADMK and Chandrababu Naidu's TDP apart, of course, from Chandrashekhar's Samajwadi Janat Party (SJP).

The development had an unsettling effect, initially, on the Congress party whose central office-bearers met today to take stock of the situation. They are learnt to be working towards an AICC session shortly, first to ratify the CWC decision on the rebel trio and then to take on the new challenge.

As expected, the Maharashtra Congress party has split with Pawar supporters aligning with their leader. Congress MP in the dissolved Lok Sabha and Pawar accolite Datta Meghe announced his resignation on Friday. More would be joining his ranks, he said.

Sangma, who has considerable influence in north-east, is awaiting Pawar's arrival in the capital to firm up plans for the region. Tariq too is expected to give a helping hand to Pawar to set up the new front's outfit in the north by concentrating on his home turf, Bihar.

A "new viable alternative front, comprising parties and people having a Congressline-of-thinking" would emerge in a week, Pawar told reporters in Pune. The new political combine, however, would not have the "Congress drawbacks", he said, adding that the outline of the front, its nature, programmes and manifesto would crystallise within two days after consultations with his two other expelled colleagues.

Regional parties from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh were "evincing keen interest" in having a poll understanding with the new combine, he said.

Sangma, who returned here this morning from the US told reporters: "We are waiting for Pawar to come to the capital. We will meet and discuss our strategy."

The former speaker said the issue of forging electoral alliances for the coming Lok Sabha elections will be discussed at tomorrow's meeting between him and Anwar. He expressed hope that more Congressmen would join them in the near future but declined to name anyone. "We cannot disclose everything at one go," he said.

Pawar ruled out the possibilityof any truck with the BJP, seeking to silence critics that he had gone against the Congress leadership in collusion with the "communal forces".

Pawar declined to divulge further details saying the nature of the national alternative, its programmes and other related issues will be decided only after holding talks with Sangma and Tariq as also leaders from Maharashtra. "We will have to provide a viable national alternative. However, the picture in this regard will be clearer by May 27-28," he added.

Pawar said that a large number of party activists in Maharashtra shared his stand and he was sure of similar response from outside as well.