Even after Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday morning, there was uncertainty about the fate of the CM who is under fire from many of his party colleagues in the state as well as at the Centre for what his detractors call a dismal performance of the state Government.Although the CM exuded confidence, rubbishing speculation about a change of guard in the state, party sources said the high command was yet to take a final decision on the matter. Emerging from his meeting with the Congress president, Deshmukh said, “All is well. I am satisfied.” Hinting at his continuance as CM, he said the party would rework its strategy in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in view of delimitation of constituencies. The party’s state unit would analyse the changes in the constituencies and assess the strength of the party in every seat. “The exercise will help us in seat-sharing discussions if we decide to contest the elections along with the NCP,” the CM told reporters. “I also apprised Sonia of the state Government’s decision to extend the farm loan waiver to seven districts which were left out of the Central scheme,” Deshmukh said, adding his Government had set aside Rs 141 crore for the purpose. Asked whether reported moves to appoint his key detractor Narayan Rane as the party’s campaign chief for the next Assembly elections were discussed, Deshmukh said, “The matter did not come up for discussion. We would abide by the decision of the high command.”On Thursday evening, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister AK Antony and Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president — who have been entrusted to take stock of the state of affairs in Maharashtra and make suitable recommendations about a change of leadership, if any — had held a meeting at Mukherjee’s residence to deliberate on the matter. “But no decision has been taken yet,” said Congress sources.Deshmukh’s rival, state Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, had on Tuesday called on the Congress president to apprise her of the situation in the state. The high command, however, remained non-committal about any change of guard, said sources. They said the Congress president was presently talking to all stakeholders and would take a final view “in the next three to four days”.
