Adarsh Society scam: Pranab, Antony discuss Ashok Chavan’s future

The Hindu

New Delhi / Mumbai, 01 November 2010: Even as the names of several Maharashtra politicians — including three former Maharashtra Chief Ministers — surfaced as being associated with the Adarsh Housing Society controversy in Mumbai, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A.K. Antony met in New Delhi late on Sunday evening to deliberate on Chief Minister Ashok Chavan’s political future.

 

Sources in the Congress said Mr. Chavan, who has been camping in New Delhi since Saturday morning, was expected to meet the two senior leaders to present his case before them. On Sunday, Mr. Chavan mounted a stout defence of his position personally and through his associates.

 

The media is being told that three of Mr. Chavan’s predecessors — Narayan Rane, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Vilasrao Deshmukh — not only expedited the housing society files, but their “friends” too have flats in the 31-storey high rise. This has muddied the waters considerably, but Mr. Chavan’s critics told The Hindu that this could backfire on him as well.

 

Union Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, also a former Chief Minister, has also said he does not own a flat in the Adarsh Housing Society, and he cannot, at this distance of time, remember what files he signed.

 

For the Congress, the controversy has snowballed into a political crisis, with the BJP-Shiv Sena combine now asking for the resignation of the entire Maharashtra Cabinet, and announcing their intention to meet the Governor on Monday to make this plea.

 

Secondly, the all-important AICC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, and the leadership does not want the crisis to overshadow it. Thirdly, U.S. President Barack Obama is due in Mumbai next weekend, followed by the commencement of the winter session of Parliament, for which the Opposition is sharpening its knives.