New Delhi, Aug 3: An overwhelming majority of respondents are in favour of Team Anna floating a political party to fight corruption, opinion polls conducted by various news channels and through SMS by Anna supporters show.
Nearly 96 per cent of the respondents in opinion poll are in favour of Team Anna going political, while a minuscule portion wants Team Anna to remain a part of "civil society" and not go in to the rough and tumble politics.
Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan told supporters at Jantar Mantar that there was no way out, since the political establishment has become "deaf and dumb" to the demands of Team Anna.
Fasting Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, looking weak on the 10th day of his fast, said, he and his team would "accept the verdict of the people with humility."
Gandhian Anna Hazare had made it clear yesterday that he would support floating a political alternative, but would remain out of politics, meaning, he would not contest, nor would he hold a post in the proposed party.
The Congress camp is reacting with glee. Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh "welcomed" Team Anna's decision but said that Team Anna should now be prepared "to be at the receiving end".
Baba Ramdev, heading the Bharat Swabhimaan Abhiyaan, with clear preference for going to the polls, said he would not comment. Ramdev said, if Annaji has decided this, he must have thought about it in detail.
Ramdev appealed to mediapersons not to create differences between him and Anna Hazare. "Let me first meet Annaji, and then I will react. However, I believe, taking the people's opinion through SMS or internet is not all. There are masses who are yet to react."
All in all, Team Anna is right now on the verge of a dilemma.
So long as it was part of "civil society" and making demands, steering clear of politics, it was smooth running, but floating a political party keeping in consideration, the demands of electoral politics, is a different ball game altogether.
Already reactions from members of Team Anna ranging from Manish Sisodia, to Kumar Vishwas and Arvind Kejriwal are varied. Time will tell.
