Date:15/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/15/stories/2003011505960100.htm

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Cong. deputes observers to Maharashtra

By Javed M. Ansari

NEW DELHI JAN. 14. The exercise to effect a leadership change in the Maharashtra Government today moved up a notch, with the high command deciding to send senior Congress Working Committee (CWC) members, Pranab Mukherjee and Ghulam Nabi Azad, and the AICC general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra, Vayalar Ravi, to Mumbai tomorrow, as observers. Their brief — interact with the MLAs and report back to the high command.

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, met the party president, Sonia Gandhi, along with Ambica Soni, AICC general secretary in-charge of the State.

Party sources, however, dismissed reports of a leadership change in Rajasthan. According to Ambica Soni, as far as the programme and manifesto implementation was concerned, Mr. Gehlot had done a "remarkable job".

Mr. Mukherjee, Mr. Azad and Mr. Ravi are being sent to Mumbai to ensure a smooth transition, according to senior leaders. They are likely to meet the MLAs individually and later preside over a legislature party meeting. It is expected that at the end of the exercise the MLAs will authorise Ms. Gandhi to decide who the next Chief Minister will be.

Talking to newspersons this afternoon Mr. Ravi said: "We will have consultations with the MLAs and get back to the leadership."

The Central leadership is keen that the change of guard is brought about in a smooth and dignified manner. "There is no question of humiliating Vilasrao Deshmukh," a senior leader said.

Talks with NCP

The central observers will also hold talks with the Nationalist Congress Party. Though the NCP chief, Sharad Pawar, is abroad, Mr. Ravi said they would consult with the leaders of that party. '' They are after all our coalition partners," he said.

Mr. Mukherjee and Mr. Azad are familiar with Maharashtra and the leadership hopes that they will be able to ensure a smooth change of head of Government. Mr. Azad, who was in Jammu, arrived here this evening and later the three met at Mr. Mukherjee's residence to decide on the modalities for talks tomorrow.

Ramorao Adik, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief, briefly met Ms. Gandhi this morning. He was apparently asked to continue for the time being. According to sources, the focus now is on ensuring that the change of leadership in the Government is completed without a hitch. After this the leadership is expected to turn its attention to the PCC.

The sources said that the question of a change in the PCC was very much in the reckoning and it was likely that Mr Adik would be accommodated in the new Ministry, before being replaced.

The leadership, it is felt, will have to ensure that the regional balance is maintained and if the chief ministership goes to western Maharashtra, then the PCC chief will have to be from Vidharbha.

Prominent amongst the names being mentioned as his replacement are Prithviraj Chauhan, Shivaji Rao Mojhe and Ranjit Deshmukh.