NEW DELHI: The crisis in Maharashtra is fast assuming the continuous of a political due between S.B Chavan and Sharad Pawar. The state chief minister Sudhakarrao Naik has apparently decided to party company with his benefactor Pawar and has begun to look up to his new found ally Chavan in the belief that he (Naik) is doing what New Delhi wants him to do.

However the Prime Minister P.V Narasimha Rao is understood to have on Nov.2 telephoned Naik and counselled him not to act brashly Since the Karnataka imbroglio is yet to be sorted out and Ayodhya is a heavy burden on his shoulders apparently Rao does not want another party crisis on his hands.

The Pawar camp is also agitated over the fact that Narasimha Rao has not yet constituted the Central parliamentary board (CPB) which is the party forum for selecting candidates for elections. All Ran had to do was to pick up members from among the members of the Congress working committee (CWC). Had this been done without delay the crisis in Maharashtra could have been averted.

The Pawar camp alleges that the information was selectively leaked to the media and then all-out attempts were made to tarnish the image of Pawar by allegations made against his men

Pawar undoubtedly commands a wider political base in Maharashtra. It was for this reason that Arjun Singh HRD Minister had played a key role in bringing Pawar back into the Congress fold at a massive rally attended by Rajiv Gandhi. Neither Chavan nor Naik has a base in the state. To challenge Pawar on his home turf is to ask for trouble.

All along after assuming office as defence minister Pawar has been keeping a low profile and has been supporting Narsimha Raoon all issues. However if he finds that the rug is being pulled from under his feet by Naik and his new Patron in New Delhi he could well put up a fight.

Incidentally the Pawar camp has taken the setback as a blessing in disguise in that it has opened the way for them to pay Naik in kind in a manner and at a time of its own choosing.

The Pawar camp recalls that al-though Pawar would have liked Padamsinh Patil to become the chief minister after him he was magnanimous enough to give the top job to Naik. Even in the matter of selecting the PCC president Pawar did not press for Shivajirao Gindhar Patil whom he favored but endorsed Patil choice of  Shivajirao Deshmukh.

 

Article extracted from this publication >> November 13, 1992