Prithviraj Chavan replaced Ashok Chavan as Maharashtra New Chief Minister

When it seemed like Maharashtra agriculture minister Balasaheb Thorat with clean image going to bag the title of Maharashtra Chief Minister, Congress again played a triumph card and announced today that Prithviraj Chavan will be the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Three names were considered for the post — minister of state in the PMO’s office Prithviraj Chavan, Mukul Wasnik and Maharashtra agriculture minister Balasaheb Thorat, however in the end, Chavan emerged as the winner. The only trouble with Chavan was his willingness to take up the assignment as his names has been recommended for the post at every leadership meet over the last eight years.

He reportedly told some party members that he is better off in the PMO as the Maharashtra Congress is ridden with factionalism and a host of other problems."It’s a thankless job. You are always on tenterhook because of the various Congress factions. There is also the headache of ensuring that the coalition partner, Nationalist Congress Party, is kept happy", one of the senior Congress leader said.

However, Prithviraj Chavan has taken up the new assignment and would be required to handle all the stuff and keep party high command and Maharashtrians content.