I’m Not in Race for CM’s Post, Says Deshmukh
Union heavy industries minister and former Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has said that he is not in race for chief minister’s post in Maharashtra.
Following a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi, Deshmukh told reporters that he would leave the decision to the party high command.
It may be noted that Deshmukh, who had been chief minister of the state twice, claims support of 50 MLAs. Also, he played a vital role in the distribution of tickets.
However, analysts feel that Congress leadership wouldn’t be easily considering Deshmukh given the fact that he only recently won the Lok Sabha election and been inducted into the union cabinet.
The Congress – Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance won 146 seats of the 288-seats that were up for grabs in the assembly elections.
Deshmukh’s statement might bring a smile in incumbent chief minister Ashok Chavan’s camp. In his brief stint of ten months, Chavan has acquired a reputation of loyalty to the party high command and is also appreciated for handling the post 26/11 scenario in the state.
On Thursday, Chavan had said in Mumbai that his ten-month tenure was not long enough to judge him. He said he was gratified by the public support and it was up to the high command to decide where he could carry on with the job.
