Mumbai: Asserting that Congress-NCP coalition
will return to power with an absolute majority, Maharashtra
Industries Minister Narayan Rane on Sunday said he will not stake
claim for the post of Chief Minister.
"The issue of chief ministership will be decided by the
high command. Right now, I am working to strengthen the party
and ensure that maximum Congress-NCP candidates win the
assembly elections," Rane, who returned here after a whirlwind
election campaign tour of Marathwada, told reporters.
When asked about his campaign for Amit Deshmukh, son of
his former bete noire Vilasrao Deshmukh, Rane said the party's
interests were on the top of his mind when he campaigned for
Amit.
"I campaigned yesterday in Latur for Congress candidates
Amit Deshmukh and Vaijath Shinde. Both Vilasrao Deshmukh and
myself are leaders of the same party. Whatever I have done is
in party's interests," he said.
When asked about his relations with Deshmukh senior, Rane
said the ordinary people are not concerned whether they both
are friends or not.
"It interests only you (media). People are concerned
about the development issues," he said.
To a question on his frequent trips to Delhi earlier to
complain about the functioning of Vilasrao Deshmukh as chief
minister, Rane said, "I never went to Delhi to complain about
anybody."
Replying to a question about his allegations against
Deshmukh, he said, "Raat gayi baat gayi."
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, October 04, 2009, 18:23