MUMBAI Nov 11: Sharad Pawar's tactical absence in the crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting last Sunday, on the pretext of pre-scheduled engagements, is seen in political circles as an attempt to remain flexible between various pressure groups within Congress.

In the process, Pawar has achieved what would have been difficult to achieve by his presence, observed one close associate of the former Maharashtra chief minister. According to sources, Pawar would have been forced to take a definite stance either in favour of Kesri or Jitendra Prasada, if he had attended the CWC meeting. In his closed door meeting with the Congress president Sitaram Kesri on the eve of CWC meeting Pawar reportedly agreed with him on most points, however differing on the logic. Pawar's calculations had taken a drastic turn during the last one month particularly after he started touring Maharashtra. The response he received during his tours to Maharashtra's hinterland was reportedly encouraging. And his reconciliation tour took new meaning with the reverses suffered by the Congress in Marathwada and Vidarbha in the recent panchayat elections.

A known Pawar baiter told The Indian Express that Pawar's game plan was to brush factional fights under the carpet and emerge once again as the undisputed leader from the State and then take on the central leadership.

However, at that point he would need the support of the young turks who had expected Pawar to take the lead in mounting an offensive against the party high command.

Pawar had, meanwhile, been trying to spruce up the MPPCC co-ordination committee set up soon after Kesri had taken over the reins of the party with a view to resolving the factionalism which was considered responsible for the party's ruin in the state. A meeting of the committee was convened last Friday but failed to take off as S B Chavan expressed its inability to attend the meeting. However, the pro-Pawar faction feel it was a deliberate move to sabotage efforts towards a unity in the party which could have strengthened Pawar's position at the Centre.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.