Maharashtra CM talks of Cabinet expansion
Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh says he could take up the long-awaited state Cabinet expansion after the shradh period.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Thursday appeared unperturbed by the campaign by a section of the PCC and AICC leaders for his removal and said he could take up the long-awaited state Cabinet expansion after the ‘shradh’ period.
Mr Deshmukh, on a day-long official visit here, also said he was not aware of any move to remove him from the leadership. “I haven’t either heard or told about any thing of that sort. Of course, the media keep speculating about many things,” he quipped when reporters asked about the campaign to remove him.
Responding to a query, he said he will meet the newly appointed AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi soon to greet him. Incidentally, two aspirants for his job — Narayan Rane and Sushilkumar Shinde — had already met Mr Gandhi to congratulate his induction into the party leadership.
Fully aware of a gang-up of Congress leaders against him, the chief minister has of late launched a state-wide tour, addressing party workers and taking stock of the administrative initiatives of his government, especially on the agriculture front.
On Thursday, the chief minister met the Union petroleum minister Murali Deora and urged him to increase the ratio of ethanol mix from 5% to 10% in petrol and diesel so that the sugarcane farmers, facing a price crash due to a bumper harvest, get a better price for their product.
Notwithstanding their failure to oust Mr Deshmukh from the top post, his party rivals continue to lobby here, saying his government had failed to do anything that would help the Congress face the elections on a confident note. They also point out that Mr Deshmukh’s failure to get along with the PCC leadership was affecting the party-government co-ordination. They insist that the high command’s decision to retain Margrat Alva, a known member of the anti-Deshmukh camp, as the AICC general secretary in-charge of the state was a signal that the chief minister could be removed, along with the PCC chief, soon.
Though Narayan Rane, who defected to the Congress from the Shiv Sena, is on an all-out bid to capture the top job, many Congressmen say his elevation could trigger a revolt within the party. Another projected candidate, Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde, has the trust of the 10 Janpath, but not the acceptability among his partymen as was proved during his last stint.
Moreover, the state Congress leaders say the return of Mr Shinde as chief minister will only help the NCP chief Shrad Pawar to tighten his grip on the state coalition.
Mr Deshmukh, on a day-long official visit here, also said he was not aware of any move to remove him from the leadership. “I haven’t either heard or told about any thing of that sort. Of course, the media keep speculating about many things,” he quipped when reporters asked about the campaign to remove him.
Responding to a query, he said he will meet the newly appointed AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi soon to greet him. Incidentally, two aspirants for his job — Narayan Rane and Sushilkumar Shinde — had already met Mr Gandhi to congratulate his induction into the party leadership.
Fully aware of a gang-up of Congress leaders against him, the chief minister has of late launched a state-wide tour, addressing party workers and taking stock of the administrative initiatives of his government, especially on the agriculture front.
On Thursday, the chief minister met the Union petroleum minister Murali Deora and urged him to increase the ratio of ethanol mix from 5% to 10% in petrol and diesel so that the sugarcane farmers, facing a price crash due to a bumper harvest, get a better price for their product.
Notwithstanding their failure to oust Mr Deshmukh from the top post, his party rivals continue to lobby here, saying his government had failed to do anything that would help the Congress face the elections on a confident note. They also point out that Mr Deshmukh’s failure to get along with the PCC leadership was affecting the party-government co-ordination. They insist that the high command’s decision to retain Margrat Alva, a known member of the anti-Deshmukh camp, as the AICC general secretary in-charge of the state was a signal that the chief minister could be removed, along with the PCC chief, soon.
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But those who oppose this campaign say a change of guard when the Congress is facing a possible mid-term Lok Sabha poll will only result in a crisis of leadership in the state. They also argue that the state Congress is short of a credible leader of Maratha origin, a crucial factor in the state, who could match the appeal and popularity of Mr Deshmukh.Though Narayan Rane, who defected to the Congress from the Shiv Sena, is on an all-out bid to capture the top job, many Congressmen say his elevation could trigger a revolt within the party. Another projected candidate, Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde, has the trust of the 10 Janpath, but not the acceptability among his partymen as was proved during his last stint.
Moreover, the state Congress leaders say the return of Mr Shinde as chief minister will only help the NCP chief Shrad Pawar to tighten his grip on the state coalition.
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