I cleared files faster than other CMs: Chavan

"I sought information about file clearing speed and found that my pace of clearing the files was faster than that of Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sushilkumar Shinde and Ashok Chavan," he said.

The CM was speaking at an award function organised by Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh here tonight.

"When I suddenly came here, my mandate was to create stability. You have to judge how much I have succeeded. I was new to many things. Now, I know much more than I knew when I came here," he said.

"My stint in Delhi has also helped," he added.

Peoples' angst over corruption is reflected in Anna Hazare movement, Chavan said. "If people feel somebody has a magic wand, people welcome it," he said.

There is now transparency in administration and this is largely due to three reasons, he said. "One is due to RTI Act. Some senior ministers had then opposed it. The Act came into being because of Sonia Gandhi's insistence," he said.

"We need to strengthen the act and remove faults in it," he said.

PILs and NGO movements have also helped and so has the corporatisation of media, he said.

On Time magazine's cover calling the Prime Minister an underachiever, Chavan said, "The reason of criticism against PM is to put pressure to allow things like FDI in retail and entry of Walmart in India. It is clear that manufacturing is not possible in the US and hence pressure is being put to allow investment in some sectors."

Looking confident after the week-long stand-off between Congress and NCP ended, Chavan said there should be coordination among the allies.