"The BJP is a known enemy, but the snake in the grass is the Congress which has given us nothing since Independence," said Maulana Sharafat Khan adding, "I was shocked to see pictures in the newspapers today that flaunted the new found friendship between Sharad Pawar and Sudhakarrao Naik, both of who were responsible for the 1993 Mumbai riots."

"They are the same people, who couldn't stand each other only a few days back. How do we trust them now?" Sharafat Khan asked.

While the RPI has invited Muslimsto join hands with them, it has already announced an alliance with the Congress. But Muslims are not too happy with the Congress. When asked how this contradiction would be solved, A Ali Azizi, the convenor of the programme said, "it has to be worked out."

Athavale, however, reiterated that the RPI has an alliance with the Congress in the State and will be hoping for more alliances in the rest of the country. "If we have an alliance with the Congress, we will be fighting 35 seats in the country. If not, we will be going for 130 seats in the country, where 50 seats will be in Uttar Pradesh alone," he said.

Nonetheless, after former Additional Commissioner of Police A A Khan recently joined the RPI, another Muslim leader Dr M A Azizi has announced his willingness to join the party. "I have been thinking of joining the RPI for a long time, but then it is not only me who will join the RPI, but my workers as well," Dr Azizi told newspersons after the function.

"We want that Maharashtra have A A Khan as ahome minister, and Dr Azizi as the health minister," said Ali Azizi. While many in the gathering clapped at this announcement, the lurking distrust of the Congress and the lack of a focal point for the Muslims was apparent. "Dalits and Muslims are the two wheels of a cycle that moves the country," argued one scholar when a man from the audience piped, "Where does cycle feature here?". Cycle is the election symbol of the Samajwadi Party and its chief Mulayam Singh was once considered to be the messiah for the Muslims.

"Mulayam Singh got his defence ministry, what did the Muslims get?" asked Dr Azizi rhetorically. He cautioned that Muslims cannot stay away from politics if it is interested in the welfare of its community adding that Muslims need to get more proactive. "Muslims can no longer be taken for granted, and the Congress has realised this," he added.

As for the RPI, Athavale said that the RPI, which will "someday" rule Maharashtra was ready to reserve seats both politically as well as in jobs forthe Muslims. He, however, reserved his comments on the "internal crisis" of the Congress now. ``We want that the matter is resolved,'' he said and despite persistent questioning refused to comment on the prospect of Sonia Gandhi becoming a prime minister. ``We don't want that Sharad Pawar to be expelled,'' he added.