The move seeking his ouster was also backed by the state unit office bearers including vice president Babubhai Kadri and organising secretary Shantilal Gandhi. They shared the views of city unit office bearers, who expressed strong reservations against Pandey's style of functioning and alleged that he did more harm than good to the Sewa Dal organisation.

The city and state unit leaders chose the occasion of Teachers' Day programme to air their views against Pandey. About a dozen office bearers, who spoke at the meeting, criticised Pandey and said he should tender resignation in view of the all-round criticism. They also claimed that about 75 per cent of city unit office bearers are opposed to Pandey's leadership.

In his address Kadri said that no office bearer should be allowed tohold important posts for such a long period. New set of office bearers should be elected every three years, he said and added that the issue of removal of Pandey and election of new President of city Sewa dal unit would be taken up at the meeting of the state Sewa Dal scheduled to be held at Mumbai on September 9.

The programme began with City Sewa Dal's chief organiser Chandrakant Navghare hitting out at the `one man show' of Pandey. The president, he alleged, does not take office bearers and workers into confidence while taking major decisions.

Among others who spoke included corporator Irfan Qamar, Ram Bahoria, Tanaji Wanve, Shirish Shirke, Dr Anil Daksha, Yashwant Patil, All India Sewa Dal trainer Sayed Ali, O P Gautam.

The meeting later decided that copies of the resolution seeking Pandey's removal should be submitted to the All India Sewa Dal President Suresh Pachauri, Maharashtra Sewa Dal incharge Bashir Bhai and Maharashtra Sewa dal President Chandrakant Dayama. Mehmood Ansari conducted themeeting and Babanrao Durugkar proposed a vote of thanks.