Bury differences, Prithviraj Chavan tells partymen before civic polls

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Monday asked Congress workers to bury differences and gear up for upcoming elections to local self government bodies in the state.

In an apparent reference to bickering within Pune unit of Congress which is divided between pro and anti-Kalmadi factions, Chavan said "there has been a lot of talk of differences. We should forget the past and get ready to face the elections unitedly under the leadership of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi."

Chavan said Congress was committed to root out corruption and added that the Lokpal Bill would be passed in the Parliament soon.

Stating that Maharashtra was still a leading industrial state, the Chief Minister said as many as 40 MOUs for various mega projects with foreign investments were underway.

He said the state government would send a Rs811 crore project proposal to the Centre to reduce pollution in the Mula-Mutha rivers that flow through Pune district.

Chavan also announced permission for construction work in four percent of Biodiversity Park (BDP) area in the city.

The metro project in Pune as also new airport for the city too would be cleared, he added.

MPCC president Manikrao Thakre said Congress would fight the forthcoming elections in cooperation with friendly parties.

The coordination committee set up by MPCC to streamline electoral matters in Pune Congress was doing a fine job, he added.