"The new team in the state Congress comprising president Manikrao Thakre, working president Jaywantrao Awale, campaign committee Chairman Gurudas Kamat and Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh have age and experience on their side. They can connect with the youth. This team is a good choice and their appointment has generated enthusiasm," Deshmukh said in Mumbai.

Deshmukh said he too would chip in to assist them. "We will work in perfect co-ordination and there will be no room for any complaints," he said.

The Chief Minister who completes four years in office in his second term next month, said he feels no pressure to deliver over the fact that the next Lok Sabha elections will be fought in the state under his leadership.

"I will work in co-ordination with the new MPCC team to deliver results," he said.

The Chief Minister said he enjoyed the confidence of AICC president Sonia Gandhi. "She was kind enough to give me a second opportunity to serve as Chief Minister. I consider myself fortunate to lead a state like Maharashtra," he added.

Deshmukh said his priority would be to galvanise the grassroot cadre and reach out to the people with the steps taken by his government for the welfare of farmers, minorities, backward classes and other underprivileged sections of the society.

"Besides, my government has also brought positive changes in infrastructure, irrigation and industrial investment.

Maharashtra continues to remain the numero uno state in terms of attracting investors," Deshmukh added.

He admitted that the power shortage continues to be the bane. "But this situation is not just in Maharashtra but in the entire country. In the last four years, we have worked hard to get additional power. We will explain the situation to the people and I am confident that they will understand that the government is not ignorant of the issue," he said.

Deshmukh said the situation has normalised in the suicide-prone districts of Vidarbha which had seen farmers ending their lives.

"The steps taken by the state government and the Prime Minister's financial package has yielded results.

Suicide is a general phenomenon. Even in a city like Mumbai, 5000 people commit suicide every year for various reasons. In Vidarbha, the number of farmers committing suicide for being unable to repay their loans or pressure of money lenders has drastically reduced," he added.

When asked whether the Narayan Rane issue has been settled by the AICC with the Revenue Minister withdrawing his resignation, Deshmukh said he would not like to comment on it.

Rane has been constantly criticising Deshmukh in public and recently he fired a fresh salvo at the chief minister on the cabinet decision to allot land to Videocon in Navi Mumbai for their new project and had declared that he did not want to remain in a cabinet "which does nothing for the poor and common man of the state." To a question on his view of Samajwadi Party's keenness for a tie-up with the Congress in Maharashtra, Deshmukh said it was for the AICC to take a decision.

On whether his or the state Congress views have been sought on the matter, the chief minister said, "we have not been asked about it. Besides, it is too early to discuss this."

Also, Deshmukh denied that Muslims in Maharashtra have been alienated from the Congress in the last four years. "We have taken series of steps for economic upliftment of the community," he said.

On resentment and non-participation of Muslims during the Mumbai civic elections last year and the Thane Lok Sabha by-election early this year, Deshmukh said that it was a minor issue.

When asked about the long pending cabinet expansion, he said that it will be announced when he actually does it, adding that the delay is not sending any wrong signal.