Ashok Chavan likely to stay on as Maharashtra CM

Mumbai: Ashok Chavan, the incumbent Chief Minister of Maharashtra, is now likely to stay on. This has emerged after a meeting of Congress MLAs on Saturday in Mumbai.

But a final decision is expected only later on Saturday night after Chavan and Vilasrao Deshmukh -- who has been lobbying hard for the post and Narayan Rane and was a hopeful -- finish the meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The meet is currently going on at Sonia Gandhi's house in New Delhi with Ashok Chavan, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Narayan Rane attending.

Vilasrao and Rane have reportedly been persuaded to accept Chavan as CM.

Scales were tilted in favour of Ashok Chavan who has been chief minister for nine months. But Deshmukh openly threw his hat in the ring for CM's post on Saturday.

Deshmukh said: "From day one I been saying whatever the high command asks me to do I will do. Twice I have resigned as the CM, twice the high command said resign I resigned; they made me the CM and now the central minister, I'm a loyal Congress worker and that's my background.

But on Friday Deshmukh publicly denied being in the race. "I am not a chief ministerial contender," said Vilasrao Deshmukh, Congress Leader, Union Heavy Industries Minister. He also met Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi.

With 146 MLAs in a 288-seat Assembly and a clear majority, the Congress-NCP combine is all set to form government in Maharashtra for the third consecutive term. (Maharahstra elections: Results)

Deshmukh has played an active role in this election, had led the previous government for four years and is seen as a seasoned politician.

The Deshmukh camp argues that since he was chief minister longer than Ashok Chavan:

• He had a larger share in the party's victory.
• That he enjoys the support of more party MLAs since he had a greater say in distribution of tickets.
• And that he is in a better position to control alliance partner NCP which has performed better than it did in the Lok Sabha polls.
  

On the downside, his governance was seen as lacklustre. And his forced exit from the chief minister's post for a rather crude display of terror tourism inside the Taj Hotel post-26/11, is fresh in the mind.

Compare this to Ashok Chavan. He has been chief minister for less than a year and is considered as a bit of a political novice. But he has ably led the party to victory and the clear mandate has given him an edge. Also, he seems to be in favour in New Delhi.

Ashok Chavan: Frontrunner

• The party was not happy with Deshmukh's performance as chief minister
• Though less seasoned, Chavan has the advantage of being a new non-controversial face
• Took charge at a difficult time - after 26/11 - and led the party to a victory