The Hindu : Front Page : Replacement for Deshmukh today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 05, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Replacement for Deshmukh today

Meena Menon

Narayan Rane and Ashok Chavan are contenders
Deshmukh submits resignation to Governor

Photo: PTI

Exit Deshmukh: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh (right) submits his resignation to Governor S.C. Jamir at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on Thursday. —

MUMBAI: A meeting of the Maharashtra Congress Legislature Party (CLP) held here on Thursday was undecided on who will replace Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters after the meeting that the opinions of 97 legislators had been taken into account in the course of the day. The CLP unanimously passed a resolution requesting Congress president Sonia Gandhi to select a successor for Mr. Deshmukh.

Mr. Mukherjee and Defence Minister A.K. Antony were here as observers for the CLP. Mr. Mukherjee said both of them returned to New Delhi on Thursday night and they would consult Ms. Gandhi. A formal decision would be announced on Friday, he added.

Two names doing the rounds are Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, a former Shiv Sainik, and Industries Minister Ashok Chavan. While there is support for Mr. Rane, many party loyalists favour Mr. Chavan, son of Congress stalwart S.B. Chavan. Mr. Ashok Chavan seems to have the support of a majority of the legislators, it is learnt.

Earlier, Mr. Deshmukh submitted his resignation to Governor S.C. Jamir, after the party high command ordered him to do so on Wednesday. Mr. Jamir accepted the resignation of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers.

There was hectic political activity in the corridors of power at the Vidhan Bhavan as the CLP met at 3 p.m. Mr. Antony, who is in charge of Maharashtra after Margaret Alva quit party posts, and Mr. Mukherjee met 72 out of 75 MLAs and 16 out of 21 MLCs , apart from 12 associate members to get their opinions.

Party sources said Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, who was in town, was likely to be consulted as well.

Since afternoon a stream of legislators had come to the Vidhan Bhavan to air their opinions. A confident Mr Rane was accompanied by his sons and many supporters.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page