Ashok Shankarrao Chavan: Another son rises

MUMBAI: Ashok Shankarrao Chavan, son of two-time Maharashtra chief minister S B Chavan, lived in his father���s shadow till his death. Senior Chavan, called ���headmaster��� for his stern and bureaucratic ways, assiduously promoted Ashok, giving him an advantage over others.

Being his father���s son helped Ashok to become a member of several state ministries including the last one led by Vilasrao Deshmukh. Senior Chavan always nurtured a dream of seeing his son as chief minister. In 1999, he actually came close to the job. His plans were then scuttled by leaders like Madhavrao Scindia and his father���s disciple Vilasrao Deshmukh. Some nine years later, the wheel had turned a full circle. As fate would have it, Mr Deshmukh backed Ashok in his bitter battle against Narayan Rane. Not so long ago, Ashok Chavan had launched a campaign to oust Vilasrao. And till he was actually ousted on Tuesday, Mr Chavan was a member of the Narayan Rane camp who campaigned against Mr Deshmukh.

Once he realised that his real challenger would be Mr Rane, the younger Chavan won over Mr Deshmukh who extended his whole-hearted support. It was, as some Congressmen point out, time for Mr Deshmukh to offer gurudakshina to the late S B Chavan. There are a number of commonalties between the former and the soon-to-be chief minister. Both Mr Deshmukh and Mr Chavan are well dressed, and led a ���colourful��� life in their youth. Like Mr Deshmukh, Mr Chavan too is suave, articulate and media-friendly. Mr Chavan is from Nanded, Marathwada. Shivraj Patil and Vilasrao Deshmukh, who quit recently, are from the same area.