Will Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi step in to decide the fate of chief minister Ashok Chavan? Sources in the All India Congress Committee (AICC) believe Rahul’s intervention would be crucial at this stage.
Will Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi step in to decide the fate of chief minister Ashok Chavan? Sources in the All India Congress Committee (AICC) believe Rahul’s intervention would be crucial at this stage.
“So far, party high command Sonia Gandhi has received information only from leaders of the AICC who are not known to be cordial to Chavan,” senior state leaders of the party told DNA. The chief minister has always banked on the support of the prime minister’s office (PMO) and Rahul Gandhi to weather crises that keep rising in the faction-ridden party.
Rahul is known to take the decisive view on different issues. It was evident in his support to J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah during the recent spate of violence in the valley.
On Monday, Chavan tired to put up a brave front by getting back to his administrative duties at Mantralaya. He has also chalked out his next 10 day’s plan in office.
One of his close aides indicated that the final verdict will be based on how the Congress leaders interpret the fact-finding report presented by Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and defence minister AK Anthony to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Despite a gag order being issued by the central leadership to the state leaders, files kept circulating all through the day among media houses.
“Chavan’s survival will depend on whether he can ward off charges of manipulation of defence land for war widows to benefit civilians. It is this single aspect in the entire query which will be crucial,” said a senior leader.
“A section within the Congress has deposed before the fact-finding committee to establish that Adarsh housing society land was handed over to the defence in barter for another defence land acquired by the state for a highway project,’’ he added.
Sources in the Centre admitted that a lot of information will emerge from the ongoing probe by the defence ministry and the CBI.
In its attempt to counter the opposition’s campaign, the Congress has decided to take the battle to the Shiv Sena-BJP combine. Member of parliament Sanjay Nirupam said, “The process of Adarsh housing society was initiated during the NDA regime in Delhi. George Fernandes was the defence minister then and Suresh Prabhu was the environment minister. Both never raised any objection to the housing complex.”
Preliminary findings have shown that state government did not get the ministry of environment clearance for the project. Former Sena minister Prabhu also has a flat registered in the controversial project.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}