Congress leader Rajesh Pilot sharing a joke with party's returning officer Oscar Fernandes as he files nomination papers for the post of Congress president.

NEW DELHI, May 27: A Triangular contest for the Congress president's post appears imminent with Maharashtra strongman, Sharad Pawar, set to throw his hat in the ring tomorrow, as the defiant Rajesh Pilot filed his nomination papers today.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief, Sitaram Kesri, is also scheduled to enter the fray tomorrow with his supporters stating that he planned to file a large number of sets of nomination papers in an attempt to indicate the broad-base of support enjoyed by him.

Though Pawar has not declared his decision so far, he is preparing himself to contest the election. This was evident from the fact that one of his close supporter and a former minister today obtained the signatures of proposers and seconders on the nomination paper.

The signatures were obtained on two separate sets of papers and the same will be delivered to Pawar tomorrow, the last day of the nomination.

``I do not know whether he will contest the election or otherwise, but on his instructions, we have completed the formalities,'' a senior Congress leader told The Indian Express. The election is scheduled for June 9 and the last date for withdrawals is June 2.

Pawar, who had a meeting with Sonia Gandhi yesterday as also Kesri, today met a number of his supporters to finalise his strategy.

Rajesh Pilot filed another set of nomination papers today, asserting a contest was necessary for the top party slot for emergence of collective leadership. He said he was in the fray as he believed that Kesri would not be able to rejuvenate the party.

Salman Khurshid, a staunch supporter of Pilot, went a step further saying there would be no retreat from the June 9 contest and called upon the party delegates to go in for a ``conscience vote''.

Both Pilot and Khurshid were among various second rank party leaders who addressed a gathering of party workers after filing the nomination papers.Former Maharashtra chief minister A R Antulay, a known critic of Kesri, filed his papers yesterday. However, he made it clear that he would withdraw if Pawar contests for the top post.

Pawar had taken keen interest in the organisational elections in the State to ensure election of his supporters as delegates, who elect the AICC chief. These include Pradesh Congress Committee delegates, block presidents and District Congress Committee presidents.

In fact, when there was a dispute following objections taken by rival factions, Pawar had a meeting with Returning Officer Santosh Mohan Deb. After the results were declared, it was clear that, barring a few districts, majority of the delegates were supporters of Pawar.

Pawar loyalists feel that he should contest the election at any cost in the larger interest of the party. ``Since his arch rival A R Antulay has already announced that he will withdraw his nomination papers in his favour, it should not be difficult for pawar to muster support from other sections,'' the senior leader pointed out.

Initially, Pawar was in favour of a consensus candidate, but after the first phase of the organisational elections, he opted for election for the top post, the party functionary added.

However, opponents of Pawar in Maharashtra remarked that he will not contest the election and instead use the opportunity to secure another post.

``He is already the leader of the party in the Lok Sabha. If he is given the post of the Congress Parliamentary Party leader's post, then he will compromise with Kesri and ensure the defeat of Rajesh Pilot,'' a former Minister told The Indian Express

.On several earlier occasions, Pawar had ditched party men, particularly when P V Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister.

``He agreed to speak against Rao, however at the Congress Working Committee meetings, there was a volte face on the part of Pawar,'' the former Minister alleged.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.