Single party rule easier for decision-making: Maha CM

"There is an important difference in the political situation that existed during Yashwantrao Chavan's tenure as Chief Minister and the one which exists today. Then, there was a single party rule, and once there was a consensus within the party, there were no problems in taking decisions and implementing manifestos.

"However, today there are many parties in the state legislature and in Lok Sabha. There are difficulties in taking decisions, especially unpopular decisions," he said.

He was speaking at a symposium, 'Maharashtra - Past, Present and Future', organised to mark the birth centenary of Yashwantrao Chavan, Maharashtra's first Chief Minister.

"More than in the case of our state, we have seen this in Lok Sabha, that many decisions which were in the interest of the nation had to be rescinded due to lack of political consensus or because of the change of stance (of the other party) after the consensus was reached," he said.

"But that should not be the reason for feeling hapless or thinking that decisions cannot be taken. Taking such (unpopular decisions) may take time but it is imperative that they be taken," Chavan said.

It will be a real test for those in the government to see how unanimity can be reached and decisions, however unpopular, are taken, the Chief Minister said.

Chavan's remarks come a week after Congress workers reportedly told the party's general secretary Rahul Gandhi during his visit here that they strongly disapproved of the alliance with the Sharad Pawar-led party.

The two parties have been in an uneasy alliance since 1999. There have been differences over issues ranging from local elections to the Centre's export policy on agricultural products, with state ministers from either side criticising the ally.

Pawar recently publicly protested against the Centre's policy on the export of cotton, sugar and onions.