BOMBAY: Maharashtra chief minister Sharad Pawar submitted his resignation to the governor on Tuesday to join the federal cabinet after completing three years in office.
The new chief minister will be sworn in on Tuesday evening after he is elected leader of the Congress-I legislature party in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers R.L.Bhatia H.R.Bharadwaj and Janaradhana Poojari AICC general secretary in charge of Maharashtra.
Pawar will be sworn-in Delhi tentatively on June 26.
Addressing a crowded press conference Pawar said his party leadership was fully aware that he had taken a decision to step down. Lam happy to submit my resignation to governor C Subramaniam tomorrow morning before the start of the Congress Legislature Panty (CLP) meeting he added.
Explaining the procedure for the election of the new party leader he said the legislators would be given opportunity to express their views to the observers on the choice of the new chief minister This would be followed by the election of the leader at the CLP meeting at 1600 hrs. The new chief minister would be sworn in at 1830 hrs Tuesday he said.
After attending the swearing-in ceremony of the new chief minister Pawar will leave for Delhi either on Tuesday evening or on Wednesday morning.
Considering the mood of the legislators Pawar said in reply to a question the election of the new CLP leader would be unanimous and in a cordial atmosphere. Asked whether prime minister P V Narasimha Rao—who is not a member of cither house at present—would be offered the Ramtek constituency Pawar said he would consult Rao on it. I do not want to make a public announcement that Ramtek seat would be offered to him.
Replying to a question about his own representation in parliament he said I would myself prefer to be a member of Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) but my party and voters in my home constituency of Baramati must agree.
In reply to a question on the raw deal given to the state in the constitution of the federal cabinet Pawar said the prime minister had taken the right stand by allotting the important home portfolio to S B Chavan who hails from Nanded in Marathwada region of the state.
All the party MPs were of the view that the Congress Party and its leader Narasimha Rao would do justice to Maharashtra and they should therefore extend their whole-hearted cooperation to the prime minister
Asked what his role would be in Maharashtra politics after shutting to Delhi the chief minister said he would tender advice if sought and visit the state if invited
Replying to a question whether there would be any change in the leadership of the state Congress he said that there was no reason for it.
Asked to list his main achievements in the state during his chief minister ship Pawar said he was successful in providing stability and peace with the cooperation of the people in the state while the picture in many parts of the country was disturbing
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