NOIDA, Aug 12:
The erstwhile Team Anna is likely to formally enter politics with the announcement of a party on October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti.
The preparatory committee consisting of 80-100 members to chalk out the nitty-gritty of formation of the party will meet for the first time on August 26, it was decided at a meeting here.
The meeting was attended by Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan, Kiran Bedi, Manish Sisodia, Yogendra Yadav, Kumar Vishvas, Dinesh Vaghela, Sanjay Singh, Nishikant, Ajeet Jha, and Naveen Jaihind.
The preparatory committee, which have members from various movements and organisations, is likely to have some senior Judges also.
Sources said the preparatory committee will finish its work by October 2 and it is likely that the launch of the party will be announced on that day.
An internal Lokpal, having retired Judges as its members, will be constituted to ensure internal discipline within the party, they said.
The internal Lokpal will enquire into allegations of corruption and if found guilty, the member will be thrown out of the party and movement, they said.
Supporters from across the country will assemble in Delhi on August 16 and efforts to form district and State committees will begin after that, they said.
Asked about Justice Santosh Hegde’s opposition to formation of political party, Kejriwal said he was among 23 eminent persons who appealed them to break fast and give a political alternative.
Meanwhile, top Team Anna members today rejected criticism that Anna Hazare was forced to adopt the path of political alternative and claimed that he was fully involved in the decision to go political.
As a first step, Team Anna may test the waters in the Delhi Assembly elections next year while skipping the polls in BJP-ruled Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh later this year.
The members said a propaganda machinery was working overtime to drive a wedge between Hazare and the other team members which, they feel, would fail.
Activist Arvind Kejriwal even offered to immediately withdraw from going ahead with the political alternative if Hazare says he is against the formation of a party.
Kiran Bedi, however, added a line saying Hazare also gave the option to remain in the anti-corruption movement for those who were not willing to follow the political path.
The views of Kejriwal, Bedi and others came in the context of speculation that Hazare was against the team pitching into politics for changing the system. (PTI)
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