The ruling Congress party in Maharashtra on Thursday put up a united show to express solidarity and faith in the leadership of chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and downplayed the situation that has arisen after the resignation of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)leader Ajit Pawar from the post of deputy chief minister following allegations about irregularities in irrigation sector during his tenure as the minister of the department. Congress party also heaved a sigh of relief after Nationalist Congress Party chief and union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar announced that the chapter of Ajit Pawar’s resignation was over and there was no problem for the stability of Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra.
Congress ministers and legislators at the informal meeting held at the chief minister's official residence Varsha however, decided not to aggravate the situation and said the Congress-led coalition government had no danger but it would be functional.
Further, Chavan and state Congress chief Manikrao Thakre asked party ministers to stay calm and not to make any provocative statements To avoid further problems in the functioning of the state government. Party ministers and legislators have been asked not to leave Mumbai in next two days and keep in constant touch.
Both Chavan and Thakre said the situation would be quite normal soon. Chavan, who briefed the turn of events after Ajit Pawar's resignation told Business Standard," Today's meeting was informal and we took stock of the situation."
However, agriculture minister Radhakrishna Patil, who hails from the anti-Pawar camp since the united Congress, said the chief minister informed about the present political developments and added that had Ajit Pawar informed him his decision to him personally instead he learnt from the media, it would have been better.
The chief minister also informed that he has been in constant touch with the NCP chief and union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar. "If desired the party will seek the guidance of the high command," he noted.
Chavan also rebutted charges levelled against him for allegedly leaking information against Ajit Pawar and said there was no truth in it. Instead, Chavan argued that access to information was now possible due to the Right to Information Act.
Thakre, who made the opening remarks at the meeting, said the Congress party was solidly behind Chavan and there was no crisis. Veteran Congress leader and chairman of state legislative council Shivajirao Deshmukh also said Congress party was all united in supporting Chavan in the present situation. Former Chief Minister Shivajirao Nilangekar said no further debate was needed to reaffirm faith and confidence in Chavan's leadership.
Schools education minister Rajendra Darda, who is currently facing charges in connection with the coalgate, also said the party is firmly backing Chavan.
Pawar’s meeting with NCP ministers, legislators on Friday a formality
Nationalist Congress Party chief and union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar’s meeting with the party legislators and leaders on Friday will be a mere formality as the former has already announced that the chapter of Ajit Pawar’s resignation was over. By making this statement Pawar has also indicated that he would not relent to the demand made by NCP ministers and some legislators requesting Ajit Pawar to withdraw his resignation and continue to work as the deputy chief minister in the state government. Pawar instead would ask NCP’s 19 ministers to take back their resignation letters submitted to state party chief Madhukar Pichad to join back their duties.
Pawar has clarified that Ajit Pawar’s resignation would be accepted by the party and it would request the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to forward it to the Governor. NCP leader, who did not want to be identified, told Business Standard “As announced by our leader Praful Patel our party will keep deputy chief minister’s post vacant but will continue to be part of the Congress led coalition government in the state.” On fate of Ajit Pawar, the NCP leader said he would continue to the NCP’s leader in the state assembly and would work to strengthen party organisation.
