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Maharashtra: CLP meet under way

Special Correspondent

Two names doing the rounds are those of Narayan Rane and Ashok Chavan
Deshmukh submits resignation to Governor

Photo: PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh (right) submits his resignation to Governor S.C. Jamir at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on Thursday. —

MUMBAI: Thursday saw hectic political activity in the corridors of power at Vidhan Bhavan as the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) met to decide its new leader. Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh submitted his resignation to Governor S.C. Jamir, after the party high command ordered him to do so on Wednesday.

Mr. Jamir accepted the resignation of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers. The CLP started its meeting at around 3 p.m. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A.K. Antony arrived as observers.

Mr. Antony, who is in charge of Maharashtra after Margaret Alva quit the party, and Mr. Mukherjee met all the MLAs and MLCs to get their opinions.

Before that, the CLP decided to pass a one-line resolution saying that it would abide by the decision of the party high command in this regard.

Two names doing the rounds are those of Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, a former Shiv Sainik, and Industries Minister Ashok Chavan. While there is support for Mr. Rane, many of the party loyalists are in favour Mr. Chavan, son of Congress stalwart S.B. Chavan. The process went on into the night and a decision is expected soon.

Pawar to be consulted

Party sources said Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar, who was in town, was likely to be consulted as well.

Since afternoon, a stream of legislators came to Vidhan Bhavan to air their opinions. A confident Mr. Rane was accompanied by his sons and a large number of supporters. Mr. Rane has been staking claim to lead the State since a while.

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