Working for the state takes a backseat, as Chavan is forced to douse fires within the Congress-NCP alliance.
The chief minister Prithviraj Chavan is confronted with the challenges within the ruling Congress-NCP alliance with senior leaders outlining their agendas at the cost of policy making in the government.
The public works department (PWD) minister Chhagan Bhujbal and home minister RR Patil of the NCP are at loggerheads over the decision to hand over the additional collector Yashwant Sonawane’s killing probe to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Within the Congress the industries minister Narayan Rane appears to be jostling to take away credit for the Jaitapur nuclear power plant project, which is the handiwork of Prithviraj Chavan. On the political front, the former chief minister Ashok Chavan has brought together dissidents on a common platform to voice their discontent. Almost 25 MLAs and office bearers, including four former ministers, have joined his camp.
The most talked about Bhujbal and Patil cold war has its roots in the cabinet meeting held last week. At the meeting Bhujbal suggested that Sonawane killing be probed by the CBI. Bhujbal’s motive was to send a message to the opposition which alleged he was shielding the culprits being the guardian minister of Nashik, where the incident took place.
Patil is worried, as handing over probe to CBI was perceived in political circles as failure of the home minister in effectively tackling the case. Now, Patil has threatened to take up the matter with chief minister. He said, “The cabinet meeting is held behind closed doors. But if some senior minister is leaking the news it is highly improper.” Patil’s criticism of Bhujbal has not gone down well within the Congress and NCP. As a senior general secretary, NCP, said, “If Patil feels the probe should be continued with his department he should have put his foot down. There is no reason to blame Bhujbal for demanding the CBI inquiry.”
A senior secretary in Chief Minister Office (CMO) said, “In less than three months of taking the charge, the chief minister finds himself confronted with political challenges. He wanted to focus his entire time and energies for development of the state.”
Senior Congress ministers feel the chief minister is not engaging them on important matters. Rane who has scaled his campaign in support of Jaitapur power project is doing so to gain an advantage in his home town. The sources in the Congress said, “Nuclear plant is the pet project of the chief minister. But with Rane going public, it appears that he wants to control the development in the region.”
However, close aides of Rane said, “By tough talking against the opposition forces that are out to thwart nuclear project, the minister is laying the ground work before the CM’s visit to the Konkan region.”
The developments on party front with Ashok Chavan rallying dissidents against the CBI probe of the Adarsh case, the chief minister reckons he cannot interfere in the matter. But the developments clearly signal that chief minister will have exercise caution so as not to further distance these disgruntled MLAs who could be tapped by others to weaken the Congress electorally.
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