Will oppose Congress in assembly elections next year: Team Anna warns

Battered by allegations of financial misconduct, the core committee of Team Anna met on Saturday but ruled out disbanding itself saying it will not be cowed down by government's "attempts to target its members".

The committee also defended key member Arvind Kejriwal from allegations of diversion of lakhs of rupees from the anti-corruption movement to an NGO run by him saying that was a decision taken by the core committee under the aegis of Hazare.

Unfazed by criticism on the Team Anna's opposition of Congress in Hissar by-election, the meeting asked the government to ensure passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Winter session of Parliament failing which they would oppose Congress in the assembly elections in five states scheduled early next year.

Hazare, who has been on an indefinite vow of silence in his village Ralegan Siddhi, and other key members including Justice Santosh Hegde, Medha Patkar and Vincent M Concessao did not attend today's meeting in which Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Prashant and Shanti Bhushan and Manish Sisodia were among those present.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Kejriwal said the meeting felt there was absolutely no need for dismantling the core committee.

"The meeting was of the view that lakhs of volunteers and along with the core committee members have played a significant role in the movement and there was no question of dismantling the committee. "