Meanwhile, the CWC, in which Kesri loyalists are in a majority, had to face stiff opposition from an assertive parliamentary party which refused to be a rubber stamp for the CWC. Priya Ranjan Das Munshi crit-icised the party for having fielded hawala-accused Buta Singh and Kamal Nath in Lok Sabha byelections, only to face defeat. Kesri had to concede that the CPP would be consulted before taking the crucial decision of withdrawing support to the UF, whenever that happens. But the Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Sharad Pawar, who has of late been at loggerheads with Kesri, is believed to have told his supporters that the CWC decision might at best be a tactical one—withdrawal of support was not on the cards. And according to this faction's estimate, about 50 to 80 members are opposed to withdrawing support. They include Raj-esh Pilot, A.K. Antony and Karunakaran.