Deshmukh asks Cong workers to focus on Maha Asmbly polls

Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today asked Congress workers to gear up for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls and not to get complacent after the party's show in the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

"The real challenge lies in getting maximum seats in the Assembly elections which are scheduled in the next three to four months. There is no room for complacency," he said.

The former chief minister was speaking at a function organised by Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) to felicitate the newly inducted Union Ministers and MPs.

"There is a great expectation from the Congress and we should not fail the people," he said.

Deshmukh's views were echoed by his cabinet colleague Sushilkumar Shinde who said Congress workers have to remain alert and continue the hard work in the Assembly polls too.

Prithviraj Chavan, a Minister of State, said the Lok Sabha mandate was overwhelmingly in favour of the Congress.

He said the day of one party rule is not far away and expressed happiness that the Congress put up a united face in Maharashtra during the Lok Sabha polls.

Another Union Minister of State Gurudas Kamat said voters wanted development while his ministerial colleague Pratik Patil said the Congress should work with renewed vigour.