The Hindu : Deshmukh may be on his way out

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 14, 2003

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Deshmukh may be on his way out

NEW DELHI JAN. 13. The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, tonight appeared to be on his way out after clear indications from the Congress high command to quit amid speculation that veteran Dalit leader, Sushilkumar Shinde, is likely to succeed him.

After a meeting between Mr. Deshmukh and the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, it was decided to depute a three-member delegation to Mumbai on Wednesday to ascertain the views of MLAs on the removal of Mr. Deshmukh, who has been heading the Congress-led Democratic Front coalition for over three years. Simultaneously, a change is also on cards on the organisational front.

The MPCC president, Govindrao Adik, is also likely to make his exit. The names of the Rajya Sabha MP, Prithviraj Chavan, and the former PCC chief, Ranjit Deshmukh, both Marathas, are in the forefront for the PCC chief post.

Capping months of campaign against him by opponents within the party, Mr. Deshmukh was summoned to the Capital when he met Ms. Gandhi for 30 minutes.

After the meeting, the Chief Minister was understood to have been given the message by the AICC general secretary, Vayalar Ravi, that he should make way for a new Chief Minister, party sources said.

Mr. Deshmukh told the Congress president that he would abide by whatever decision she took. Mr. Ravi said Mr. Deshmukh had not formally resigned.

After the Gandhi-Deshmukh meeting, the AICC general secretary and Ms. Gandhi's political secretary, Ambika Soni, said Mr. Ravi and two senior leaders would go to Mumbai as central observers on Wednesday to ascertain the views of senior party leaders.

They would come back to Delhi and report to Ms. Gandhi on the situation after which a final decision would be taken, she said.

As Mr. Shinde arrived here from Pune for a meeting with Ms. Gandhi, the MPCC president, Govindrao Adik, who had been at loggerheads with the Chief Minister, is also meeting her tomorrow.

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