Shinde likely choice to replace Chavan as Maharashtra CM

Congress high command is believed to have given nod to remove Chavan; Shinde may take oath either on Sunday or Tuesday

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is likely to lose his job. According to Congress sources, he might be replaced by former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

The Congress high command is believed to have given its nod to remove Chavan, in the wake of the party's humiliating defeat in the general elections and increasing complaints from members of the Congress and its ally Nationalist Congress Party about policy paralysis and the CM's style of functioning.

Congress sources say the high command was convinced that if Chavan -- despite his 'Mr Clean image' -- is allowed to continue, the party might find it difficult to weather the anti-incumbency in the Assembly polls likely to be held in September-October. Congress insiders indicated that Shinde, who is NCP's choice, is expected to take oath either on Sunday or Tuesday. The NCP never had a good working relationship with Chavan and is quite keen on his ouster. The names of state Agriculture Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and state Revenue Minister Bala Saheb Thorat are also doing the rounds as successor to Chavan. NCP chief Sharad Pawar along with Congress leaders A K Antony and Ahmed Patel met on Thursday to discuss the modalities and the strategy for the upcoming polls.

The meeting, which lasted for nearly half-an-hour, comes in the backdrop of intense speculation that Chavan might have step down. There is a view in the party that change of guard at this juncture, three months away from the Assembly elections, need to be looked into. However, those for change say it could help the party get over the anti-incumbency to some extent. Shinde, who was defeated in the general elections by BJP nominee at his home turf Solapur constituency, comes from backward class and enjoys good relations with the NCP and is acceptable to all groups within the Congress. Shinde, who had been the chief minister during 2003 and the state Assembly elections in 2004, was the architect for the Congress-NCP victory.

Shinde, whose name figured in the Adarsh Housing Cooperative Society scam, has already been cleared by the judicial commission. Besides, the Congress and the NCP feel that Shinde, who comes from the backward class, is suited to take a decision on quota for the Maratha and Muslim communities. However, had Chavan, a Maratha, continued, the opposition would have attacked the government for favouring Maratha community.