Pawar should save his face by quitting the post before he is exposed by the inquiry committee appointed to probe into the defeat of Ram Pradhan in the Rajya Sabha elections, Kalmadi said while addressing a crowded press meet at his residence here today.

``Pawar had credited himself for the success of Congress party in Maharashtra during the Lok Sabha polls. Now, he should take moral responsibility of Pradhan's defeat,'' Kalmadi said.

The newly elected RS member said that Pawar's move to support the candidature of newspaper baron Vijay Darda proved fatal for Congress. He, however, said that there was no need for him to initiate ``any move'' to oust Pawar from the post of Leader of the Opposition as that will be taken care of by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

When Kalmadi's attention was drawn to thestatement by Pradhan that he did not hold Pawar responsible for the defeat and the statement of Congress observers that the party votes were purchased by independents in the fray, the former railway minister said, ``They are compelled to make such statements in public. Ask them in private and they will tell you what the story is.''

``Also, Pawar is being given a second grade treatment in the party. He cannot give justice to the post of Leader of the Opposition. He should take my advice. He will never become the prime minister of this country,'' Kalmadi said.

The one time protege and now arch rival of Pawar said that he was not the only person who was back-stabbed by Pawar for personal political gains. He said that the MVA would offer its membership to ``only those disgruntled Congressmen'' who had distanced themselves from the party following a biter experience with Pawar.

Kalmadi made it clear that the MVA would not throw open its doors to the rebel BJP-Shiv Sena leaders but would support the ManoharJoshi government.