No leadership change in Maharashtra; no impact of Ajit Pawar's resignation on UPA: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress today ruled out leadership change in Maharashtra and insisted that the Ajit Pawar's resignation from the post of deputy chief minister will not have any adverse impact on the UPA government at the Centre.

The AICC also projected the resignation of Pawar as a state issue to be dealt by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, the state party unit and the party in-charge of the state.

"No question. There is nothing like this," was the refrain of party spokesman Rashid Alvi when asked by reporters whether Chavan, who is being targeted by some NCP leaders following Pawar's resignation, will be replaced.

A senior party leader, who declined to be identified, said the resignation issue was more a cause for worry for NCP, a party to which he belongs, than Congress as Sharad Pawar's party is beset with internal problems.

He said that while several NCP leaders were facing allegations of corruption, the Chief Minister's image is "very clean".

"The issue in Maharashtra is being looked after by the state unit, AICC-in charge of the state and the Chief Minister," Alvi said to a volley of questions and dismissed suggestions that the development would have an impact on Delhi. NCP is a constituent of the Congress-led UPA at the Centre.

Alvi's remarks came close on the heels of cracks in the Maharashtra coalition widening with NCP making a veiled accusation that the Chief Minister was not standing by Ajit Pawar, who quit his post yesterday.