Team Anna meets without Hazare to decide next step

Amid "confusion" on how to take the movement forward, Team Anna's Core Committee met here today sans ailing Anna Hazare to decide on their future strategy.

This is the first meeting of the Team after Hazare called off his agitation programmes for a strong Lok Pal last month.

Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan, Kiran Bedi and other members attended the deliberations during which they discussed the future course of action, including the mode of campaign during the elections to the five states.

Hazare did not attend the meeting as he was not keeping well. Doctors had advised him not to undertake any tour for at least a month due to his health conditions.

The poor public response to Hazare's agitation in Mumbai and Delhi in the last week of December and taunts from Congress on its anti-Congress plank appears to be weighing heavily on the minds of Team Anna.

Team Anna members said the meeting was meant to discuss the mode of campaigning in other five states as well suggestions received from public on how to take forward the movement.

The meeting also comes against the backdrop of an article written by Kejriwal which suggested that Team Anna appeared to be confused on how to take forward the fight for a strong Lok Pal, saying the movement is at "crossroads" and a wrong decision at this stage can prove disastrous for it.

He had then sought suggestions from public to take forward the campaign.

Team Anna members said they will also deliberate on its anti-Congress line vociferously taken during its campaigns earlier as it was been accused of being pro-BJP.

However, the induction of former BSP leader Babu Singh Kushwaha, who is accused of corruption, in the BJP has put Team Anna on the wrong foot as Congress stepped up attack against them.