The moral high ground taken by the Congress high command over the issue has cut chief minister Ashok Chavan’s chances of continuing in office short.
The developments in the Congress over the Adarsh Cooperative Society scandal have left the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the partner in the ruling coalition in the state, on tenterhooks.
The moral high ground taken by the Congress high command over the issue has cut chief minister Ashok Chavan’s chances of continuing in office short.
But his removal also means formation of a new council of ministers under a new chief minister. The NCP is bracing for that situation.
“It appears to be an internal matter of the Congress. We cannot take any position unless the guilt of any individual in the housing project is established,” said state NCP president Madhukar Picchad. The party is relieved that none of the 104 allottees in the housing society is a top NCP cabinet minister. Only two from the party — an MLA and a former MP — figure on the list.
NCP’s political managers, said the party is monitoring the situation. “The functioning of the Congress-NCP coalition will depend on who becomes the next CM. It’s not binding on the Congress to get our consent, but we hope they won’t thrust on us an anti-NCP person,” said a senior leader.
The party is wary of Prithiviraj Chavan, the frontrunner for the job right now. “Chavan is perceived to be anti-Sharad Pawar. Moreover, the NCP doesn’t want a leader from Western Maharashtra where the party has a strong base,’’ said an NCP leader.
In the normal course events, NCP chief Sharad Pawar would have thrown out ministers who have a poor performance record, said another functionary, adding the party makes an appraisal half-way through the term of the house.
The developments in the Congress will hasten the process. Of the total 42 ministers in the ministry, the NCP has 20.
A section in the party has started talking about deputy chief minister and PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal being elevated to central politics. This would create scope for a new candidate in the ministry. At least half a dozen senior NCP leaders are waiting to return to the cabinet.
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