In a decision that shocked his followers across the country, social activist Anna Hazare on Monday disbanded Team Anna, the main force behind the anti-graft movement in the country.
Dropping a bombshell, Hazare declared in his blog that he was dissolving Team Anna as it has achieved the purpose for which it was started — awakening the people on Jan Lokpal.
However, sources close to Team Anna said the decision to launch a political party was behind Hazare’s move to terminate the unit. Also, since Hazare has made it clear that he will not be a part of the political outfit, he disbanded the team.
Team Anna came into existence to negotiate Jan Lokpal with the government.
“Team Anna was formed to work for Jan Lokpal. We have decided not to keep any relations with the government. So the work that started in Team Anna’s name has ended here and Team Anna committee also ends here,” Hazare wrote on his blog.
Hazare’s blog also emphasised a broader consensus on the issue of joining electoral politics. The sudden announcement by Hazare took his associates unawares. “The issue was, of course, discussed in the informal meeting of the team on Sunday. Since preparation for the political alternative has started, the meeting felt the need of a broader committee,” spokesperson of India Against Corruption Ashwathi Murlidharan told Deccan Herald.
However, after Hazare’s blog, Kiran Bedi tweeted: “Read Anna’s blog. Do not know what all it means. For we all had very useful preparatory meeting with Annaji wherein he gave useful guidance.”
In Bangalore, N Santosh Hegde, another Team Anna member, told a news channel that he was surprised by the decision to disband the group.
Political parties reacted sharply to Hazare’s decision. Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said: “Hazare himself doesn’t have confidence in his team, that is the reason he has taken this decision.”
“We knew the movement was bound to come to an end. The BJP welcomes Team Anna’s decision to join politics,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javedkar told reporters here.