Even though there is a strong resentment among Congress workers over Suresh Kalmadi's return to the party, Kalmadi, himself seems to be confident to make his show a grand success. A battery of Congress leaders including AICC general secretary Sushilkumar Shinde, MPCC chief Prataprao Bhosale, former chief ministers Shankarrao Chavan and A R Antulay and former Union minister Natvar Singh will be attending Kalmadi's function.

The merger would now take place at Congress Bhavan instead of Ganesh Kala Krida Kendra. Kalmadi, accompanied by Mayor Datta Gaikwad and other MVA corporators, visited Congress Bhavan to finalise the preparations of the merger. He was welcomed by city Congress chief Mohan Joshi and other party leaders.

Kalmadi, after garlanding the bust of Mahatma Gandhi, had a meeting with former minister Anantrao Thopte. The sources said both the leaders decided to undertake a joint tour of Pune district.

It was Kalmadi's first visit to Congress Bhavan after his announcement of return to the party. However, a number of corporators and leaders preferred to stay away from meeting. The only prominent leader present was former MLA Prakash Dhere. Former MLAs Sharad Ranpise and Balasaheb Shivarkar, former mayor Vandana Chavan were conspicusous by their absence.

The routine spirit and enthusiasm at Congress Bhavan was also missing. The Nationalist Congress Party, on the other hand, has organised a rally on June 4 at Hotel Central Park on Jungli Maharaj Road. Party's Pune unit would be officially set up at the rally. Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly Madhukar Pichad and Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council Chhagan Bhujbal will address the rally. Besides, Ajit Pawar, Vidura Navale, Vitthal Tupe, Ashok Mohol and Jagnnath Shewale would attend the rally.

Meanwhile, newly appointed president of the Pimpri-Chinchwad unit of Congress, Hanumant Gawde today issued a whip to all the corporators to attend the party meeting on Sunday. A major section of the corporators who support Pawar expect that the party may take action against them in the next two days.