Team Anna today suffered a vertical split with Anna Hazare and some top activists choosing to part ways with the Arvind Kejriwal-led group, opposing their plans to form a political party.
After a roller-coaster ride of 18 months in which they came together to run a high-steam anti-graft movement, the group led by Hazare had acrimonious discussions with Kejriwal and his supporters including Prashant Bushan and Shanti Bhushan on the issue of forming a political party.
Backed by activists including Kiran Bedi and Justice Santosh Hegde, Hazare told the other group during the nine-hour deliberations that they were free to form a political party but cannot use his name or photo for their campaign.
"It is unfortunate that the team has separated...I will not join any party or any group. I will not go for their campaign. I have told them not to use my photo or my name in their campaign. You fight on your own," he told reporters here.
Hazare refused to accept the survey done by India Against Corruption which overwhelmly favoured a political path, saying he does not agree with the exercise done through social networking sites.
"My best wishes are with them (those taking political path). There is no harm in it. If they think that they can get majority in Parliament, it is good...The paths have been separated. Both of us have chosen our (separate paths).
When pointed out that Kejriwal had earlier declared that he will not form any party if Hazare does not approve it, he said if that was the case, then the party should not be formed but "it is a good thing".
The discussions saw a section alleging that Hazare was "exploited" by the Kejriwal group. It was countered by others saying "people in Delhi have made Anna what he is now".
Reacting to the developments, Kejriwal tweeted, "country is on sale. It is passing through very difficult phase. I willdo everything possible for me to save my country."
Bedi, who is opposed to forming the party, tweeted, "Annafinally distances himself from political option. Moves tostrengthen the movement. May bring together anti-corruptionmovements."
She told PTI that she did appeal to those members of theteam who were very keen on political option to give themovement some more time.
"But it appears that they are convinced about theiroption. This finality by Anna was essential to dispel the mixup of the movement and the party politics," she said.
Giriraj Kishore, an ex registrar of IIT Kanpur whoattended the meeting, said the overall mood of the discussionswas that the movement should remain united and should reach afruitful conclusion.
"A section of those in meeting said Hazare was exploitedby some people in the movement. But this is not true. If Annahas given his name to the movement, people here have made theAnna what he is now. They built the image of Anna," he said.
Bollywood actor Anupam Kher, who attended the meeting,said in case one needs to fight corruption solidly, one "mayhave to fight elections". He said there is no controversy butonly deliberations.
During his interaction with press, Hazare also expressedhope that government will be forced to pass a strong LokpalBill as elections are nearing and the government should befearing it.
"They will be afraid of losing power. That time has come.
I believe that they will have to bring the Lokpal Bill beforeelections. Now it is that they bring Lokpal or my death," hesaid.
Hazare said in the days to come he will embark on anationwide tour to create awareness on Lokpal. "If they areconfident of contesting elections, they should go ahead. Theyhave my blessings. I will be happy if they win," he added.
Yesterday itself, he made it clear for the third time inless than a week that he does not support the anti-corruptionmovement taking a political plunge and told Kejriwal that hecannot expect the activist's support for all his candidates.
Expressing doubts about the movement changing colours, heinvoked JP Movement and wondered how would have Jai PrakashNarain known that the movement will produce a "leader likeLalu Prasad".
The movement has come a full circle since its inceptionin April last year when Hazare struck a chord with commonman's angst against corruption but it started losing steamafter December due to its political ambitions.