Kalmadi to launch state-level front

PUNE, MARCH 11: Pune Vikas Aghadi (PVA) founder Suresh Kalmadi, who lost the Lok Sabha election against Congress nominee Vitthal Tupe in Pune, is now planning to float a Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi with the help of disgruntled Congress leaders.

Addressing a meeting of PVA workers here on Tuesday, Kalmadi said he would soon embark on an “extensive tour” of Maharashtra before formally setting up the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi. A number of Independent MLAs and a section of Congress leaders had already approached him with suggestions to set up a state-level Vikas Aghadi, Kalmadi said.

He went on to launch a blistering attack on one-time political mentor Sharad Pawar for “ignoring and side-tracking” those who had supported and stood by him during his “critical period”.