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No cause for worry, Sonia reassures Deshmukh

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilas Deshmukh was on Thursday assured by Congress president Sonia Gandhi that there was no move to replace him and he should continue with his work without worrying.

Deshmukh, who had flown to the capital following speculation of a possible change of guard in Maharashtra, told reporters that he brought the speculation in the media to the notice of the high command.

Gandhi, he said, told him not to worry, but to request Vayalar Ravi, the party's general secretary in charge of Maharashtra, to convene a meeting of the Democratic Front's co-ordination committee chaired by former Union home minister S B Chavan.

Deshmukh also called on President A P J Abdul Kalam and Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. But the main purpose of his visit, observers said, was to apprise Gandhi of the discontent within the Maharashtra unit being fanned by some senior Congress politicians.

Deshmukh, however, dismissed media speculation that the rumblings against him had the backing of some central leaders. "There is nothing of the sort," he said.

The chief minister later met Ravi to request him to visit Mumbai and convene a meeting of the co-ordination committee to ensure better functioning of the coalition government.

Asked why several legislators were raising the banner of revolt against him, Deshmukh said, "When there is speculation, MLAs go and put up their views before the high command. If they have anything against me they will go there to complain."

Speculation about his replacement, he said, had been rife for several months. "The fact is that whenever there is speculation, such things crop up and such activities take place. But that doesn't mean things move according to that [script]."

Asked where such rumours emanated from, Deshmukh quipped, "That is for you people to find out."

About the proposed expansion of his council of ministers, which he had promised on his last visit to Delhi too, Deshmukh said the high command had asked him to discuss the matter with Ravi and submit a proposal.

Deshmukh denied having had anything to do with the statement issued by 11 independent MLAs in Maharashtra on Wednesday, warning that their support should not be taken for granted if there was a change in the Democratic Front's leadership. "They are independent members and they might have some opinion," he said. "But we are tied to the knots of discipline of the Congress party and our leader is Sonia Gandhi... I can remain in this post only as long as she wants."

Asked if he was pressing for prompt appointment of a new governor to succeed P C Alexander, who resigned last month, he said that was the Centre's lookout, but added, "Maharashtra has had a very rich tradition of good governors and we hope [it] will continue."

Asked if action would be taken against the dissidents, Deshmukh said, "When the coordination committee meets in Mumbai, all these issues will come up before it."

This is the second major crisis for Deshmukh, after the threat in June to his government following withdrawal of support by the Peasants and Workers Party and some members of the Nationalist Congress Party, the second largest constituent of the Democratic Front.

Political Crisis in Maharashtra: The complete coverage

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