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Congress sources indicated that Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan, who had earlier been considered serious contenders, were more or less out of the race as the party wanted a leader active in the state for the top job. Three leaders had emerged as the new candidates — Narayan Rane, Ashok Chavan and Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil.
Rane, the sources said, was the frontrunner since he also had the blessings of Sharad Pawar, chief of ally NCP. Deshmukh and Rane have had a running battle with the latter sniping at the CM openly, even seeking his removal.
“Much will depend on the mood of the state legislature party,” said a senior Congress leader. It is learnt that the NCP was agreeable to Shinde as CM but the Congress wanted a Maratha leader. Prithviraj Chavan was not acceptable to the NCP since he comes from Karad in the NCP bastion of western Maharashtra and the party views him as a threat. The NCP also considers Ashok Chavan “too junior”.
Emerging from an hour-long meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi late this evening, A K Antony, AICC in-charge of Maharashtra, said: “His (Deshmukh’s) resignation has been accepted. Observers will go there tomorrow and a new name will be announced thereafter.”
Pranab Mukherjee and Ahmed Patel, Political Secretary to the Congress president, were also present at the meeting in 10, Janpath. Earlier in the day, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi was also said to have called on Antony to discuss the issue.
Deshmukh had offered to quit on Monday, repeating it on Tuesday when he met Sonia Gandhi. While the writing on the wall was clear for Deshmukh, he was counting on differences of opinion between the Congress and NCP over the name of his successor.
Meanwhile, the NCP is said to be getting ready to nominate Chhagan Bhujbal as Deputy Chief Minister. He will fill in for R R Patil who had to go after the Mumbai terror attacks.
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As an Indian I feel real sorrow at the lack of outrage at the undemocratic decision making process of particularly the Congress Government. There is no system of checks and balances with the political party apparatus and agenda fusing as one with the workings of the Government. The selection of the next Maharashtra Chief Minister should rest with the elected Maharashtra Legislature and not stooges of the Party Chief and her own whim and fancy at the center. What is worse, if the people don't like it, they can't even protest with a ban on protests in Mumbai in the coming week, and no body seems to think it untoward - are our democratic rights so eroded because we don't value them enough?
The High command will take its own time to select a new leader and they will impose a good for nothing fellow like Sivraj Patil as the next chief minister of Maharastra..shame
How can a government which cannot take a decision on the CM be worthy of protecting its citizens ? Shame on you !
Sonia Gandhi seemed to have being waiting for the usual response of Indians to forget so that her loyalist can continue on in his post as CM. The congress president is partly responsible for the sad state of affairs for putting loyality to herself above competence. She and her family are protected as national assets while Indians has no security.
the 'congress' is no more a party but is an organization headed by supremo who works for best of her interest than of nation or of party even.
Vilasrao can now join RGV and Riteish in the movie. Politicians are shameless and are only greedy for Chair and Money. They do not want to do any work for Citizens. Vilasrao is a very good example.