Shinde meets Sonia, discusses ministry formation

Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Wednesday night met Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the formation of the ministry in the state.

Shinde has inducted representatives from the Nationalist Congress Party and other parties, except the Congress.

Before leaving for the capital, Shinde had hinted to reporters in Mumbai of downsizing the ministry.

Vilarao Deshmukh, who was removed as the Maharashtra chief minister last week, met Gandhi before Shinde, but said he was still not aware of the reasons for his replacement.

During his 20-minute meeting, he offered his services to the Congress president in whatever capacity she deemed fit.

He said he was not feeling let down by the Congress high command, dismissing suggestions that he faced the axe because of the image and performance of his government. Shinde might have been brought to give a 'better' performance, he said.

The former chief minister said that he had not met Gandhi to recommend the case of anyone in the ministry formation. "It is the prerogative of the chief minister."