Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on leaders who have been getting feelers from Sonia's Congress vis-a-vis Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress, asking them for a quick decision.

A Sonia loyalist and former bureaucrat Ram Pradhan contated almost all those who matter in Sangli over the telephone some days ago asking them to make up their mind. Well-placed sources indicated that a couple of senior Congressmen in Sangli told Pradhan that it would be difficult for them to cross swords with Pawar as, he was a major political entity in Maharashtra. The Maratha strongman, on the other hand, was stated to be ``unhappy'' over the Sangli leaders' apparent unpreparedness to come out in the open.

Interestingly, Minister of State in the Narayan Rane ministry, independent MLA from Shirala, Shivaji Naik lashed out against the so-called Congress bigwigs in the district, recently. It was the duty of Congress leaders in Sangli to support Pawar in his difficult times, Naik said.

Speaking to newsmen Naik said with Pawar's blessings these leaders who were now refusing to break their silence have enjoyed higher positions in the cooperatives and in Congress itself. Naik indicated that a few independent MLAs from Sangli who now are supporting the saffron alliance may eventually join Pawar. Former Republican Party of India MP Ramdas Athawale who was in Sangli recently, stated that his party would support a secular force.