Deshmukh to stake claim today

NCP's RR Patil to be deputy chief minister

Congress veteran Vilasrao Deshmukh, who was today elected leader of the Congress legislative party, said the Congress-NCP alliance was likely to meet Maharashtra Governor Md Fazal on Saturday to stake claim to form the new government.

The alliance was likely to complete the formalities to stake claim by Saturday evening, Deshmukh said. He added that the decision would be taken after due consultation with all constituents of the alliance.

Deshmukh also said he would go to Delhi tomorrow to meet party President Sonia Gandhi.

Deshmukh's deputy will be RR Patil of the NCP who was elected the leader of the party's legislature group.

The entire process of election of the Congress legislative party leader was marked by a swift turn of events during the day. Shinde, a frontrunner when the proceedings began, appeared to have lost the race after central Congress leaders closeted themselves with him and Deshmukh to decide the leadership issue.

Congress leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot and Margaret Alva spoke to All-India Congress Committee leaders in Delhi, including Ahmed Patel and Ambika Soni and the seal of approval for Deshmukh came from the party high command.

At the fag end of the legislative party meeting, confusion prevailed as Shinde's supporters claimed their leader had emerged victorious. But their jubilation was shortlived as central leaders came to the Vidhan Bhavan foyer and announced Deshmukh's name.

The election of Deshmukh, who had not been on the best of terms with NCP chief Sharad Pawar, marks the return of the Maratha strongman, who hails from the economically-backward Marathawada region, in the saddle.

Deshmukh praised Shinde, the outgoing chief minister, for leading the alliance back to power in the assembly polls.

Asked whether allocation of more ministerial berths for the NCP as agreed could make his job as chief minister difficult, Deshmukh said coalition has its own limitations. "You have to lose something to gain something," he added.

Interestingly, Deshmukh's deputy Patil is another Maratha strongman Patil, who was all praise for party chief Sharad Pawar, said he was thankful to the party president and the party activists for supporting him throughout his political career.

"It is only in this party and due to its leadership that a son of an ordinary farmer could reach such a position," he told reporters soon after his election was announced by the central leaders.