His absence is being seen as significant in the backdrop of growing importance being given to senior Congress leader, Arjun Singh by the party president Sonia Gandhi. However, Pawar was present during deliberations on foreign affairs and agriculture.

Curiously, former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, who was also present here today, did not participate in the debate. Gandhi had called on him and requested to speak either on economic or international matters.

Sharp differences in the party leaders over the new economic policies also came to the fore at the conclave with CWC member Rajesh Pilot circulating a strong rejoinder criticising the economic reforms initiated by Dr Manmohan Singh, who is the chairman of the AICC economic affairspanel.

The discussions saw senior leaders divided on the ticklish issue of formation of an alternative government as also on forging tie-ups with regional parties like Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Bahujan Samaj party.