Already facing flak from sulking ally NCP, Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has now come under “friendly” fire from Congress MLAs with over 40 of them writing to the state party chief voicing their grievances.
The Congress MLAs have written to PCC chief Manikrao Thakre seeking his intervention to settle “issues” ranging from lack of clearances for infrastructure projects to delay in filling administrative posts and release of additional grants for development work in their constituencies.
The letter dated July 19, according to party sources, has also been marked to AICC in-charge of Maharashtra Mohan Prakash, according to an MLA who did not want to be named.
Incidentally, the letter was issued the day when NCP supremo Sharad Pawar skipped the meeting of the Union Cabinet, triggering the ongoing stand-off with Congress and creating a crisis of sorts for the ruling UPA. Mr Chavan has often been slammed by NCP, besides a section in his own party, for “tardy” decision-making.
Thakre, however, downplayed the issue which was being dubbed as a rebellion against the chief minister.
“No MLA has complained to me about the functioning of the chief minister. Let it be clear, nobody is against the chief minister.
“The letter I have got pertains to problems the MLAs are facing in their constituencies. I have spoken to the CM about it and their work will be done,” Mr Thakre told reporters.
He also rubbished reports that as many as 62 of the 82 Congress MLAs have accused Chavan of being indecisive and ignoring party interests.
Mr Vijay Wadettiwar, party MLA from Chemur in Vidharbha, while admitting that the MLAs had highlighted “several issues” faced by them in their constituencies, said they had never sought removal of Mr Chavan as the chief minister.