It’s time to go, Sonia signals to Deshmukh

Asked what would be the brief of the observers, he said, ‘‘All issues would be discussed, and that would include everything.’’ On whether Deshmukh had offered to resign, Ravi said, ‘‘At the meeting with Sonia Gandhi, Deshmukh made it clear that he would abide by whatever decision she takes.’’ ‘‘She assured him that she would take a final decision after getting all inputs,’’ he added.

Though the Congress President did not ask Deshmukh to submit his resignation, Deshmukh, sensing the way the wind was blowing, is believed to have told her that he would abide by whatever she decided in the interest of the party.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister avoided meeting the mediapersons waiting for him outside the gate of 10, Janpath. He slipped out through a gate at the back. However, before leaving for Mumbai, Deshmukh met Ravi.

Instead of taking the decision herself, Sonia appears to be devolving the decision-making process by sending a team of observors. Thus she could guard herself against any flak. Her own assessment, which compelled her to summon the Chief Minister to Delhi today, is based on the feedback she has received from her partymen in the state.

The other members of the panel are likely to be Pranab Mukherjee and Ghulam Nabi Azad. Sushil Kumar Shinde, who was the Congress candidate for vice-presidentship, has emerged as a frontrunner for chief ministership. Shinde cut short a Pune trip to rush to New Delhi.

There are enough indications that MPCC chief, Govindrao Adik, too will be removed. He is in town and is slated to meet Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday. The names of Prithviraj Chavan, Rajya Sabha MP, and former PCC chief Ranjit Deshmukh are being considered for MPCC chief. While Shinde is a Dalit, Chavan and Deshmukh are both Marathas and either could balance the caste equations in the party.

While at one time Shivraj Patil was the hot favourite for replacing Vilasrao Deshmukh, Shinde is favoured by Sharad Pawar as well. The NCP has made it clear that the government being a coalition, they expected to be consulted.

The massive turnout at the Shivaji Park meeting addressed by Narendra Modi on Sunday has given a new urgency to the Congress to combat anti-incumbency in Maharashtra where elections are due in 2004. The Congress now faces the twin challenge of an aggressive Hindutva, which paid the BJP rich dividends in neighbouring Gujarat, and an anti-incumbency factor fuelled by the severe financial crisis in a state which has been the country’s commercial hub.

Deshmukh’s head had been on the chopping block but the decision was deferred because of the Gujarat polls. He is under attack for being ineffective, and for not being able to stand up for the party’s interests. Complaints of rampant corruption in the administration also have been coming in.