Chavan Replaces Chavan

Vivek Kulkarni


Chavan replaces Chavan

Amidst the charges of corruption over the Adarsh society scam the Congress high command has replaced the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Prithviraj Chavan has become the chief Minister after resignation by Ashok Chavan.
Even before the Adarsh society scam, Ashok Chavan was alleged for involvement in other scams like paid news and corruption in co-operative sector. The Congress party was already facing charges of corruption in the Commonwealth games and 2G spectrum. There was much roar over the Adarsh scam in parliament and by opposition parties in Maharashtra. After formation of two member committee of Pranab Mukherjee and A.K. Antony by the Congress party it was clear that Ashok Chavan would be removed from the post of chief minister. On very next day after Obama’a visit to India Ashok Chavan was asked to resign.
Former Chief Ministers of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh , Narayan and Sushilkumar Shinde were out of race for the Chief Ministerial post as these names were surfaced in the scam. They were alleged to have recommended some names for allotments of flats in the Adarsh society and these flats were sold at lower prices. Names of many Maharashtra Congress leaders like Harshvardhan Patil, Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, Mukul Waknis were in the news. But most prominent among them was Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office (PMO) Prithviraj Chavan.
Prithviraj Chavan is close to both, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. He was looking after PMO, Department of Science & Technology and Parliamentary affairs at the centre. Although he is good at administration but it is said that he is not very well aware about conditions in the Maharashtra. Internal politics in the state Congress is going to be one of the biggest hurdles during his tenure. His equation with the alliance partner in the Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar doesn’t go well along. He is expected to lead Congress against aggressive politics of NCP.
When the Congress was replacing Chief Minister, its alliance partner NCP also changed the Deputy Chief Minister. Minister of Irrigation in the state and nephew of Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar was elected as the new Deputy Chief Minister. He replaced Chagan Bhujabal. In a sudden move, more than 50 Ajit Pawar supporters MLA’s (member of legislative assembly) wrote a letter to Sharad Pawar demanding to make Ajit Pawar , Deputy Chief Minister. Sharad Pawar had no option; Ajit Pawar was elected as Deputy Chief Minister.
After that it was alleged that as both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister are from Maratha community backward classes have no place in this government. And as both these leaders belong to western Maharashtra, considered as developed part of Maharashtra, it is said that underdeveloped parts of the Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha will be neglected. Newly elected CM and Dy.CM have assured that there will not be any discrimination against any caste, community or any region.
The Congress-NCP is in alliance not due to their performance but due to fragmented and discredited opposition parties the state. Main challenge before the new government is to give corruption free and efficient government. Nothing less will do.