Sonia defends Chavan's LS ticket, conscience clear: ex-Maha CM

Congress President Sonia Gandhi today defended the decision to give a Lok Sabha ticket to scam-hit Ashok Chavan, a former Maharashtra Chief Minister, saying he has not been "barred" by any law from contesting polls.
The backing for Chavan came on a day when he filed his nomination papers from Nanded Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra after his candidature was announced by the Congress yesterday.
Chavan, who quit as Chief Minister in 2010 after his name cropped up in the Adarsh Housing scam, told reporters in Nanded he has done "no wrong" and that he has not been disqualified from contesting polls. He also said his conscience was clear on the Adarsh issue.

At a press conference in Delhi for release of the Congress manifesto, Sonia brushed aside the controversy surrounding Chavan's nomination when she anwsered the question on the subject directed at Rahul Gandhi.
"The decision (to field Chavan in polls) has been taken by the Central Election Committee. As far as we know, Ashok Chavan has not been barred from contesting elections by any law or the Election Commission," she said.
"I will answer the question," Sonia said as a reporter asked Rahul about the contradiction between his tearing up the ordinance on convicted lawmakers and raising anti-corruption issues while giving ticket to Chavan.

BJP has challenged Rahul to explain how his party has nominated Chavan to contest the Lok Sabha elections.

Late last year, when the Maharasthra Government rejected an inquiry report in the scam that had indicted Chavan, Rahul intervened to force the State Cabinet to reconsider its decision.
"We are 100 per cent sure that we will win," Chavan said after filing the nomination in Nanded.
Asked if his conscience was clear on the Adarsh issue, a senior leader from Maharashtra, said, "Yes. I am absolutely clear. I have done no wrong.