Ashok Chavan slams party rivals for his ouster

Maharashtra’s former chief minister Ashok Chavan is down but certainly not out. Chavan, who had to step down for his alleged involvement in the Adarsh housing society scam, broke the silence for the first time in his home town Nanded holding his rivals in the Congress party responsible for his ouster.

“There is a new trend in state politics wherein contract or supari is taken to politically overthrow somebody. This is quite a dangerous trend but the citizens of this state will teach people exercising such contracts. I am not involved in any scam but let there be an inquiry. I resigned on moral grounds,” he said.

He warned his detractors of a long-term impact on their career. If they carried out such contracts in state politics.

Chavan did not name anybody. He said his rivals had failed to get the chief ministership as another Chavan (Prithviraj) had become his successor.

More important, Chavan hinted he was ready for a long innings despite a major blow. He also said such ups and downs were not new to him and thus there was no question of going into political wilderness. He also hinted he was ready to fight back.

At a massive rally organised by the Nanded district Congress party on Sunday, Chavan also expressed displeasure over the alleged media trial without verifying facts.

He was critical of a section of the press and media for running a smear campaign against him for having mobilised property of Rs 2,200 crore. “This is simply ridiculous. How can the press and the media hurl criticism on this issue without verification. I am not the owner of three sugar factories operating in Nanded district. Besides, I am not a owner of any educational institute. I have already declared my property to the election commission, “ Chavan told Business Standard.

Chavan is the third Maharashtra chief minister after A R Antulay and Shivajirao Nilangekar Patil who had to step down for their alleged involvement in a scam.

Chavan’s scathing criticism against rivals within the Congress party comes at a time when the Adarsh scam is expected to be raised by opposition parties during the ongoing winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur. Chavan had to resign for allegedly using his influence to get three flats for his relatives in the Adarsh society that was meant for the wives of Kargil heroes. Apart from politicians, retired bureaucrats and defence personnel also have flats in the 32-storey Adarsh building located in Mumbai’s Colaba area.

At present, the Central Bureau of Investigation is probing the scandal. Besides, the ministry of environment and forests has slapped a show cause notice asking why the building should not be demolished following the alleged violation of coastal zone regulations. Further, in the wake of the recent expose, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has withdrawn the occupational certificate granted to the Adarsh society while BrihanMumbai Electric Supply and Transport has disconnected power supply.

Subsequently, the members of the society had approached Bombay High Court, challenging the cancellation of the occupation certificate and snapping of electricity and water supplies.