Cong crumbling: Pawar punch for Maharashtra CM

Hitting back at Deshmukh is his inimitable style, Pawar equated the position of the Congress with the old bastions of Deshmukhs (traditional village heads) who have been losing their relevance these days. ‘‘In some states, the walls of the bastion have collapsed,’’ he said.

Without naming Deshmukh, Pawar said: ‘‘Somebody is speaking in such a language to please his bosses. Our people in the government are not under such a compulsion and should concentrate on governance.’’

The party formally elected former Assembly Speaker Arun Gujarathi as State president of the party at the meeting.

Pawar’s comments were triggered off because of Deshmukh’s diatribe against the NCP a few days back. In an interview to a news channel, Deshmukh had described the NCP as a regional party. He had stated there was ‘‘nothing significant’’ in the NCP winning a couple of seats more than the Congress in the Assembly elections.

However, the war of words between the two leaders started earlier this week, when Pawar spoke against the State government’s decision to continue with the free power sop to farmers.

Pawar has maintained that these freebies should be limited only to the poorer sections of society.

Deshmukh hit back at Pawar a day later saying the government would be firm on honouring all the commitments made by the combine before the Assembly elections.

Deshmukh was elected by Congress legislators and his appointment had been approved by the party leadership because of his ability to emerge as a Maratha leader and also his image as a traditional Pawar baiter.