Meet the new negotiators

After a slew of Union Ministers failed to persuade Hazare to call off his fast, an anxious union government has roped in Vilasrao Deshmukh and Prithviraj Chavan to mediate on its behalf

After a slew of Union Ministers failed to persuade Hazare to call off his fast, an anxious union government has roped in Vilasrao Deshmukh and Prithviraj Chavan to mediate on its behalf

After maintaining a conspicuous distance from the ongoing crisis in Delhi, two of the state's prominent Congress leaders have finally made an appearance on the scene, to convince the anti-graft crusader to call off his fast.

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Former CM Vilasrao Deshmukh and Prithviraj Chavan

Incumbent Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Union Minister of Science and Technology Vilasrao Deshmukh have been roped in by the central leadership, and assigned the task of breaking the impasse with Hazare.

In spite of their first-hand experience in negotiating with Hazare, the leaders had been maintaining a noticeable distance from affairs at the national capital.

Two days ago, however, both leaders were deployed by the central government to mediate with the crusading activist on its behalf.

While Deshmukh paid a visit to the Gandhian at Ramlila Grounds to convey a message from the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Chavan held a telephonic conversation with Hazare on Wednesday night.

Both Chavan and Deshmukh are seeking help from some of Hazare's close aides, who are based in Pune and his native place Ralegan Siddhi.

A student gets a sketch of the social activist in support of the Lokpal Bill. Pic/Sameer Markande

Kitchen staff at a star hotel couldn't march to Azad maidan, so they decided to protest at their workplace in Thane. Pic/Sameer Markande

Western Railway motormen joined the protest and were seen sporting the Anna cap. Pic/Nimesh Dave

The central leadership enlisted the support of Chavan and Deshmukh after abortive attempts were made by Union Ministers P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal and AICC office bearers Abhishek Singhvi and Manish Tiwary, to break the deadlock.
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The PM thereafter sought the help of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as well as Law and Judiciary Minister Salman Khurshid, but to no avail.

With all efforts at negotiation evidently failing, the union government finally decided to rope in Chavan, recognising that the latter shares a cordial relationship with Hazare.

Deshmukh too was roped in, as he had met with Hazare numerous times during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Now, with the state leaders taking centre stage in the negotiation process, the State Congress unit, led by Manikrao Thakre, is also urging the Gandhian to end his fast.