Ailing Anna not to campaign for polls

Team Anna member Kiran Bedi on Thursday said that ailing social activist Anna Hazare will not campaign in the five states where assembly elections will be held this year. Satyajit Joshi reports.

Team Anna member Kiran Bedi on Thursday said that ailing social activist Anna Hazare will not campaign in the five states where assembly elections will be held this year. The core committee will meet in his absence in New Delhi on Saturday to chalk out an alternate strategy to highlight the lokpal issue in these states.

Social-activist-Anna-Hazare-who-is-admitted-to-a-private-hospital-after-suffering-from-a-chest-infection-recovers-in-Pune-PTI-Photo

Bedi made the announcement after an hour-long meeting with Hazare at a Pune hospital. “Anna will not campaign as he needs complete rest. He is not permitted by the doctors to undertake any journey, to minimise chances of infection,” she said.

Dr Parag Sancheti, who is treating Hazare, said, “Anna has shown a lot of improvement, but needs rest. The decision to discharge him will be taken on Sunday.”

Hazare’s close aide Suresh Pathare had informed core committee member Arvind Kejriwal on Monday that Anna will rest for a month, but the latter had said that the final decision would be taken after considering the doctors’ advice, Anna’s opinion, and the views of the core committee.