Amid intense speculation in the Congress circles about a possible change of guard in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday appeared reconciled to such an eventuality, when he said that his party high command had the prerogative to deliberate on the issue and take whatever decision it deemed fit.
A day after NCP chief Sharad Pawar held a meeting with senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and AK Antony in New Delhi, Chavan told mediapersons in Pune: “Had it been meeting to discuss the seat-sharing issues, Congress leaders from Maharashtra would have been present there. That’s why Thursday’s meeting in New Delhi might have nothing to do with seat-sharing for the forthcoming Assembly polls. I do not know as to what transpired at Thursday’s meeting”.
“But, the fact remains that the Congress high command has the prerogative to deliberate on the issue and take whatever decision it deems fit. Whatever decision that will be taken will be made known to you,” the Chief Minister said.When his attention was drawn to speculation over the possible change in leadership in Maharashtra, Chavan said: “Yes. There has been a debate on the issue in the media. But, whatever decision that will be taken by the party leadership will be made known to you”.
“As far I am concerned, I have not been told anything directly about it (the leadership change). I have a lot of official work in Delhi and may have to go there. But if I am called to Delhi by the party leadership (in connection with leadership change), I will definitely go. From my side, I will continue to work as before till a formal decision is taken,” the Chief Minister said.