A high-level meeting here on Thursday set off speculation that Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan may be replaced ahead of the Assembly election in the State.
Top party sources said while the issue was discussed threadbare at the meeting attended by senior Congress leaders A.K. Antony and Ahmed Patel with Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, no decision has been taken. Further, the sources added, nothing “dramatic” is expected. Congress president Sonia Gandhi will likely take a decision, if any, early next week. Later, Mr. Ahmed met party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi and treasurer Motilal Vora.
Thursday’s meeting comes against the backdrop of legislators from the ruling Congress-NCP combine demanding a change of leadership in the wake of the party’s abysmal showing in the recent Lok Sabha elections in the State. The Congress won just two seats and the NCP five. Of the two seats the Congress secured, one went to former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who was forced to step down after his name figured in the Adarsh housing scam.
Even as top party sources did not rule out a change, they said replacing the Chief Minister before the elections would serve very little purpose. A change in Mumbai, these sources added, might also trigger off a demand for a similar change in Haryana.
