Speaking to mediapersons, Pawar refused to endorse the view that Deshmukh was being punished by the party high command for the RS poll fiasco. ``Deshmukh had submitted his resignation and it was accepted by party president Sonia Gandhi yesterday. We will have to make alternative arrangements (appointing a new state chief). That will be done after I reach New Delhi tomorrow.''

On Deshmukh's statement made yesterday that he had to own the moral responsibility since nobody else was ready to do so in the wake of the major electoral reversal, Pawar said he would not react to it until he personally met the former state chief in New Delhi.

Pawar gave a clean chit to the 10 MLAs, a majority of themhis staunch supporters, who have been issued show cause notices by the AICC for signing the nomination papers of independent candidate Arun Mehta for the State Council elections. ``It is not a case of voting against the party's official candidate. They signed blank nomination forms for which they cannot be held responsible,'' Pawar said, going on to explain that the state leadership had decided to collect in advance 10 signatures each on six nomination forms.

There was no cause for worry since the clarification would be made tomorrow, he added. Hinting towards the aspect of former Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi, Pawar blamed the involvement of money for the setback to Congress and himself. Though Pawar refrained from making a direct reference to Kalmadi on the money issue, prodded by media persons, he quipped `The days when information about Kalmadi was available with me have passed.' And, wrapped it up by saying, ``Utthal Paanyala Khalkhalat Phar,'' (empty vessel makes more noise) Pawar on the criticismheaped on him by Kalmadi.

Pawar further justified the moral support extended to newspaper baron Vijay Darda at the RS polls saying citing his pro-Congress background, and reminded press persons that the other Independent candidate Kalmadi was openly criticising Congress, party president Sonia Gandhi and pledging to function as a BJP ally.