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Chavan asks Deshmukh, Adik to patch up

MUMBAI SEPT. 6. A skirmish between the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, and his detractors has been sought to be ended by the senior Congressman, Shankarrao Chavan, who has asked both Mr. Deshmukh and the MPCC Chief, Govindrao Adik, to "make up and work as a team.''

The advice follows a visit of 11 party Ministers of the coalition Government here to Mr. Chavan complaining against Mr. Adik. Mr. Adik's mistake, according to the Ministers, was that he has been publicly — at meetings and to the media — expressing serious lack of confidence in the present arrangement led by Mr. Deshmukh. He is believed to have said that when polls are held, the party would not ask for votes on the strength of the Government's performance. At a function in Nagpur, Mr. Adik had spoken of non-performing Ministers.

Despite Mr. Chavan's advice to Mr. Adik and Mr. Deshmukh to conduct themselves in a manner that brings credit to both the party and the Government, sources say though the skirmish has ended, the war has not. Several battles, they point out, are yet to be fought.

Mr. Deshmukh does not express his ire against Mr. Adik. Mr. Chavan heads a coordination panel for intra-party peace. While Mr. Adik tends to speak out, the others who are aspirants for Mr. Deshmukh's chair, only lobby for a change of guard. Ranjit Deshmukh, ex-Minister, Patangrao Kadam and Rohidas Patil, both senior Ministers, put their demand across even after Ms. Sonia Gandhi told Mr. Deshmukh that he should remain at the helm.

Mr. Adik has said more than once that he cannot use the Government's performance as a vote-catching platform come elections and would have to depend on the rich traditions of the party and its commitment to the people. He feels the administration has abandoned some 200 schemes, including the "malaria eradication programme'' beneficial to the poor.

To Mr. Deshmukh's discredit, the Government never explained its side. There are, however, some caveats in what Mr. Adik says. One, if the Congress tries to take credit for whatever has been done, the other partners would claim similar credit at the hustings and that would not give the party the edge it needs and deserves.

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