Ashok Chavan named Maharashtra CM

Maharashtra Industries Minister Ashok Chavan will be the next chief minister of the state.

The decision comes after long deliberations by the Congress high command, which on Wednesday had asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to resign, following the terror attack in Mumbai last week

Chavan has been nominated the leader of the state Congress Legislature Party by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on Friday.

Chavan said his top priority was to instill a sense of security among the people reeling under the terrorist attack in Mumbai.

He said the need of the hour was to win back the confidence of the people and provide them with a tough administration.

"People on the streets are not bothered about who becomes the chief minister or deputy chief minister. People's priorities are different at the moment. I urge Congress workers, especially in my home district Nanded, not to celebrate," he told reporters.

The process of government-formation would begin a day or two, Chavan said.

He thanked AICC observers Pranab Mukherjee and A K Antony as well as Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the legislators who put faith in him.

To a question about Rane, he said it was natural for anyone to aspire to be the chief minister and he did not take the attack personally.