Former Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has come to the defence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan as demands for his resignation gained momentum.
"Mr. Chavan is an efficient Chief Minister. It’s not advisable to effect changes in government and party on the eve of elections," said Mr. Shinde, while describing the party's defeat in the Lok Sabha elections in the State as ‘unfortunate.’ Mr. Shinde had contested and lost the Solapur seat.
He was speaking after the meeting called by the Maharashtra unit of the party to discuss the poll debacle.
Mr. Shinde’s defence came moments after Mathadi (daily wage labourers) union leader Baburao Ramishte demanded the CM's resignation. Mr. Ramishte asked the Chief Minister to own responsibility for the party’s defeat.
Meanwhile, Congress Minister Narayan Rane, seen as a contender for the Chief Minister’s chair, attended the meeting on Friday after staying away from it the previous day.
He had resigned as Industries Minister soon after his son Dr. Nilesh Rane’s defeat from the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat. The resignation was seen as an attempt to pressure Mr. Chavan to resign.
“Give me a week’s time to comment on whether we need a leadership change in the State or not,” he said.
