Congress has decided to retain Vilasrao Deshmukh as the chief minister and is looking to consolidate its position in the state after electoral setback in neighbouring Karnataka.
MUMBAI: After dithering for several months on change of leadership in Maharashtra, Congress has decided to retain Vilasrao Deshmukh as the chief minister and is looking to consolidate its position in the state after electoral setback in neighbouring Karnataka.
BJP-ruled Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka surround Maharashtra, where Congress shares power with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.
The other neighbour Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP is reported to be gaining ground with elections expected next year.
In last month's Lok Sabha bypoll in neighbouring Thane, Shiv Sena-BJP nominee trounced NCP-Congress candidate.
The bypoll result is being seen as a wake-up call to the Democratic Front government, which is into second term and faces Assembly polls next year.
Congress and the NCP will face the saffron challenge together in Maharashtra, a senior Congress leader said.
"Despite posture's of going alone, the two parties have no alternative but to stick together if they want to stop the saffron combine from trying to regain power", he said.
The two parties, sharing power in the state since 1999, may also review the seat, sharing arrangement in the light of the delimitation of the Lok Sabha and the Assembly seats, he said.
Meanwhile, MPCC Chief Prabha Rau has made it clear that the party high command has to decide about the alliance.
Deshmukh has dismissed reports that the Karnataka outcome will have an impact in Maharashtra.
He said Congress party's performance in the border districts of Bidar, Gulburga, Vijapur and Belgaum was better than that of BJP.
"We have sealed the border," Deshmukh said.
Deshmukh is brimming with confidence after his May 30 meeting with party Chief Sonia Gandhi. "All is well", he said.
There was speculation for the last several months that Congress was planning to replace Deshmukh.
A known Deshmukh detractor Narayan Rane, who left Shiv Sena in 2005 and joined Congress, has been at the forefront in the campaign against Deshmukh.
With Deshmukh surviving all attempts to dislodge him, Rane, who is Revenue Minister, is a bitter man, a Congress leader said.
){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}