Chavan stakes claim to form new govt in Maharashtra

Mumbai -Maharashtra Chief Minister-designate Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday night called on Governor K Sankaranarayan to submit letters of support and stake claim to form the next government in the state.

He was accompanied by NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister-designate Ajit Pawar. The swearing-in ceremony will take place tomorrow at 4.30 pm.

The 64-year-old Chavan, who resigned as union minister to take charge as Chief Minister, arrived in the city to a rousing welcome and drove to Sahaydri government guest house in south Mumbai and met independent MLAs and party legislators.

Ajit Pawar and NCP leaders were at Chhagan Bhujbal's residence 'Ramtek' waiting for Chavan to arrive. Chavan's name as the new Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader was announced this morning in Delhi after the legislators authorised Sonia Gandhi to name the new leader last night.

Congress asked Ashok Chavan to resign yesterday following his alleged involvement in the Adarsh Housing scam. Ajit Pawar replaced Chhagan Bhujbal as the leader of the NCP Legislature Party at a meeting held this evening.

In the 288 member Legislative Assembly, Congress has 82 MLAs and also the support of 11 independents while NCP has 62 MLAs and is supported by nine independents.

Nov 10 (PTI)