Click to play videoThe Congress and Nationalist Congress Party alliance is coming back into power for the third time in the state of Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena does the damage for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance this election. The two men of the moment, NCP President Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan spoke to CNN-IBN about their victory, the reason behind it and the future of Maharashtra.
CNN-IBN: Is Ashok Chavan your choice for Chief Minister?
Sharad Pawar: Certainly, this is a prerogative of the Congress party. I don't want to interfere.
CNN-IBN: Do you believe that Ashok Chavan as projected by the Congress should become the CM?
Sharad Pawar: As I said this is a prerogative of the Congress party but one should not forget the election was contested under his leadership.
CNN-IBN: Do you think it is a victory for you and the way you led the election?
Ashok Chavan: I thank Sharad Pawar for the comments he has made. But as he has rightly pointed out selecting the leader is the prerogative of the Congress party. But nevertheless I would like to thank my Congress President Sonia Gandhi and also Sharad Pawar. Initially when I took over after 26/11 the reigns of Maharashtra, my party gave me the opportunity of becoming the CM and I was supported by the NCP at the time.
I think in the short time, which I could get as the CM, the responsibilities of running a collision government and with the support of the senior leaders I think I could do best in my power for the state of Maharashtra.
CNN-IBN: Many believe this election was not a victory for the Congress-NCP alliance, but a victory by default. You won because the MNS damaged the Shiv Sena in Thane, Mumbai. And in the rural parts the anti-incumbency votes were divided between rebels and the smaller parties. Do you accept that?
Ashok Chavan: Why don't you look at the positive side of the picture? It's because of the performance of the government and the administration of the state in the last five years is responsible for the victory. I think it's a clear-cut mandate, which the people have given to us. It's only that there was a difficulty in some seats with the selection of candidates where the choice was wrong. Else, we would have performed better. I don't think the MNS has anything to do with our victory or the defeat of other candidates.
The MNS issue is concerned with the Shiv Sena, their victory or defeat is for intriospection for Shiv Sena and their leaders.
CNN-IBN: Thirteen seats were won by the MNS and another 25 seats were where the MNS hold more votes than the margin of victory of the Congress-NCP via-a-vis the BJP-Shiv Sena. Would you concede that Raj Thackeray has emerged in your own words 'a charismatic leader'?
Sharad Pawar: No I don't agree with your view because then you can think about the Third front also. I entirely agree with the CM that one should think about the positive performance of the government. Firstly, we have to accept that the government under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh has worked by which the farming community of the country are extremely happy.
CNN-IBN: Are you not going to accept that there was a problem of drought, electricity, load-shedding. And that Maharashtra is a state in crisis?
Sharad Pawar: Whatever the contribution of the Government of India and the state government is, the basic reason for victory is a collective achievement of both the Centre and the state. Yes there are the issues you mentioned, but the people of Maharashtra are absolutely confident that the present set of candidates will resolve the issues.
CNN-IBN: Can you name the one big achievement of your government in the last 10 years? It's been a Congress-NCP government and the charge is often made that what has the government really done?
Ashok Chavan: This issue has been discussed throughout the election period and I think the biggest achievement was the write-off of the farmers. The farmers were in distress and the Government of India and the state government wrote off a sizable amount for the farmers, which gave them a big relief.
The industrial investment in Maharashtra in the last five years has generated a lot of employment. Maharashtra stands number one state in terms of investment.
CNN-IBN: You stand at number 11 when you exclude the Mumbai-Thane area. Areas like Vidarbha are still suffering. Maharashtra is becoming a state which is on the decline, do you concede it?
Ashok Chavan: I don't agree with you. See the reports of Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India and the Reserve Bank of India. I think these are positive indicators where we have done a lot. There is a competition where I don't disagree. But our policies are proactive and we are seeing that investments are coming into the state.
CNN-IBN: There was some talk before the election of NCP merging with the Congress. Is that still a possibility?
Sharad Pawar: Don't forget that we contested 12 seats less as compared to last year.
CNN-IBN: Digvijay Singh said this first and it was later repeated by Vilasrao Desmukh. There is a feeling that you can provide a more cohesive government if you merge?
Sharad Pawar: Digvijay Singh said it's his personal view and it's not the thinking of the Congress leadership. Congress party never thought of this. Congress wanted that we should give external support and we wanted to cooperate.
CNN-IBN: How will you cooperate when the last time you demanded the ministry?
Sharad Pawar: Don't forget that I have surrendered chief-ministership. Though there was a more number we have not insisted on chief-ministership. And a merger is out of question.
CNN-IBN: Do you want Sharad Pawar to be part of your party or are you happy with this collision arrangement?
Ashok Chavan: I think it is an internal issue of the NCP and I don't have any comments on that.
CNN-IBN: Am I talking to the next CM of Maharashtra?
Ashok Chavan: I'm still the CM of Maharashtra until the new government is elected. The question is that there is a procedure that needs to be followed and ultimately the Congress President takes a decision.
CNN-IBN: Would you like to give some advice to Ashok Chavan?
Sharad Pawar: What he's saying is absolutely correct. Congress believes in democracy and they will take a decision in a democratic manner.
CNN-IBN: Are you confident that you deserve to be CM of Maharashtra?
Ashok Chavan: I think that is for the Congress President to decide.
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