Hazare's decision was announced to his followers, who had walked down to the Yerawada prison from their village -- 85 km away in Ahmednagar district -- seeking a brief meeting with Hazare, by his close associates after about an hour of confusion outside the prison.

The prison officials later received an oral intimation from Hazare about his plan to undertake a fast. His associate, Gandhian leader Balasaheb Bharde, told the people that his attempt to persuade Hazare to reverse his decision may succeed.

Laxmibai, Hazare's octogenarian mother, however, told newsmen that her son was resolute and would not change his decision. ``Anna has done it (fasting) before, and he has never heeded the attempts to make him give it up,'' she said.

Hazare is currently undergoing a three-month jail term in the defamation case involving Social Welfare Minister Baban Gholap.

Yerawada authorities denied permission to the marchers to meet Hazare. The refusal was attributed to a government holiday on account of Ghatasthapana. Over 500 residents had walked to Yerawada in a dindi a pilgrimage on foot from Ralegan Siddhi to meet Hazare.

Disheartened, they staged a protest by resorting to bahajans and kirtans in front of the prison, before leaving the place.

Hazare's associates in his anti-graft campaign, G.P. Pradhan, Baba Adhav, Fr. Fransis D'Britto, Balasaheb Bharde, Dr. Narendra Dabholkar and sarpanch of Ralegan Siddhi Ganpat Auti were in contact with the prison authorities.

The prison authorities, however, did not change their stand on any such meeting. They had agreed to allow a delegation of villagers to meet Hazare, The idea was turned down by the marchers. They were pressing for permission for all.

The villagers then demanded that they be allowed to have a darshan of Hazare. ``He (Hazare) is a prisoner, law doesn't allow anything like this,'' a senior prison officer said, with a request not to quote him. The prison authorities would take appropriate steps, if Hazare conveyed his decision on fast in writing, he added.

The anti-graft movement leaders later met at the Hamal Panchayat to plan their satyagraha at Nashik coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi birth anniversary.