NEW DELHI: Left disillusioned by the lukewarm response to its last call for agitation for a strong Lokpal, Team Anna in a mid-course correction announced on Tuesday that it would not campaign against any single party in the five poll-bound states.
The decision was taken by the core committee of Team Anna in a marathon meeting on Monday. The movement had come under a lot of criticism for its blatant anti-Congress stand. Congress, which has always alleged Team Anna for leaning towards BJP, did not attach much importance to the decision saying the team was free to campaign against any party.
“There was a consensus in the core committee meeting that we should tour all five poll-bound states but should not campaign against any party,” key member of Team Anna Arvind Kejriwal said. The core committee’s view has found concurrence with the septuagenarian Anna Hazare, recuperating in his native village Ralegan Siddhi. The Team Anna’s decision has come after the wind was literally taken out of its anti-corruption movement as reflected by a poor turnout for Hazare’s call for an agitation against the Congress-led UPA Government. Adding insult to injury, the Lokpal Bill was not passed in the Parliament.
The third round of protest was called half-way ostensibly due to the failing health of the anti-corruption crusader. Kejriwal later admitted that they were “confused” and there was a need to give a new direction to the movement.
Earlier daring Congress, Hazare had announced that he would personally go to five states - Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa - and exhort people not to vote for the Congress.
However, the team was forced to review its strategy as all the members were of the view that a single political party should not be targeted.